Andrés Rentería

22     Striker     Santos Laguna     Colombia

Skinny

Low centred, potent front line incendiary smart enough to cover several advanced positions and make an impact from all.  A key player for Los Verdiblancos since arriving in Mexico from Atlético Nacional in late 2012, Rentería has become a popular figure at the Estadio Corona and has looked as sharp an attacker as any in the league over recent seasons. 

Quick, smart and possessing a wonderful sense for positioning, the only real surprise is that he hasn’t scored more goals over the last two years.  That Renteria hasn’t has perhaps been to Santos’ managers’ keenness to shuffle the Colombian into different positions (both Pako Ayestarán and his predecessor Pedro Caixinha have readily set teams up with Renteria featuring on the right, left, or as a central striker) on a regular basis.  Although predominantly right footed, Renteria often looks at his most dangerous as a central striker afforded opportunity to drift, especially from the left.  A knack for arriving at just the right moment and losing markers completely really left us wanting to see more.

2015 has been...

A mixed bag.  Santos Laguna’s Campeón de Campeones victory over América in Frisco - their first ever title in the first running of the tournament since 2006 - will certainly prove evocative to supporters of the winning side, and to Renteria who more than played his part, but largely masked the fact that Santos spend most of their time as mid table fodder. 

Rentaria’s impact has certainly been negated this year and the constant position changing hasn’t helped.  He’s a player that can cause problems from numerous directions and this has perhaps been an asset and a curse in 2015.  A fairly ineffective run in the Aperturas this time out has seen Santos struggle and a single goal between July and October was all the Colombian was able to muster as his team toiled in the league.  Prior to all that, Renteria was given his head at international level and managed to notch in his first appearance in a 6-0 routing of Bahrain in March.  Further call-ups have not yet arrived, but Renteria is talented enough to suggest his two caps won’t be the only ones he picks up.

What’s next?

The aforementioned luxury of mid table looks well off right now with Ayestarán’s Santos struggling near the foot of the table.  A goal and assist in a 3-0 victory over fifth place Veracruz appeared to be a return to form for Renteria and the Torreón club, but a groin injury has curtailed any momentum and Santos have defaulted back to disappointing.

It’s likely that the best option for Andres Renteria now is to move on.  While his form has been patchy, there are mitigating factors and plenty of scouts will be well aware of what he can do given a run in one position.  Europe is a possibility, but a move to real heavyweight in South America could be a winner.  You will unquestionably hear more of Andres Renteria.

C-     Nothing more to see here, move on