Jonathan Urreta

[juanes]

Club:Deportivo La Coruña

Loaned from:Benfica Lisbon

Nationality:Uruguay

Age:20

Height:1.73 m / 5.68 ft

Weight:68 kg / 149 lbs

Position:Attacking mid®

 

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Uruguay had an impressive World Cup, getting further than most people expected, and a huge part of this success was courtesy of the phenomenal Diego Forlan .

 

And although the 31-year-old has probably played his last World Cup, for his replacement, Uruguay needn't look any further than 20-year-old Jonathan Urreta viscaya, otherwise known as Urreta .

 

Urreta can play as either an attacking midfielder or a forward, due to his pace and terrific technique. Just like Forlan, he has a wonderful first-touch and reflexes, and suburb dribbling ability. Urreta is also an unselfish player, who is excellent at whipping crosses into the box and is dangerous at set pieces.

 

He is agreessive, has fantastic acceleration and is clinical in front of goal.

 

Born in Montevideo, Urreta began his career with a bang. Aged just 17, he scored on his senior debut for his hometown side Club Atlético River Plate in a 2–0 win against Liverpool Montevideo in the first game of the Clausura -  the second half of the Uruguayan season.

 

He went on to bag an impressive nine goals in 15 games for his side that season, and his performances soon caught the attentions of several European clubs.

 

Tottenham Hotspur had already seen Urreta 's tremendous potential in 2007, but he was denied a work permit after having trials at the North Londoners.

 

He eventually joined Benfica, with the Portuguese giants snapping him up for of €1.3 million in July 2008.

 

He made a confident start for his new club, finding the net in a pre-season friendly against  Blackburn Rovers, as his side went down 3-2.

 

But with strikers Angel Di María and the on-loan Jose Antonio Reyes ahead of him in the pecking order, Urreta didn't really get much of a look-in in his first season, making just 15 appearances in all competitions – mostly as substitute - and scoring one goal.

 

Although Urreta 's luck didn't improve the following season, he was called up to the side for a big game against FC Porto in January 2010, due to Benfica's injury problems. And despite his lack of first team action, Urreta didn't disappoint, rising to the occasion to perform well in a 1–0 win that helped his side to the Portuguese title.

 

He was then loaned to Uruguayan side C.A. Peñarol for the remainder of the season, returning to his country in a bid to gain more first-team experience, and scored four goals in 14 games for the side. 

 

For next season, Urreta has been loaned out again, this time to LA Liga outfit Deportivo La Coruña.

And under the tutelage of veteran playmaker Juan Carlos Valerón, Urreta certainly has the potential to take his game to new heights and prove he can compete against the very best of La Liga.

 

Urreta has starred for Uruguay Under-15s, Under-17s and Under-20s, and national team coach Oscar Tabárez has already been impressed with the player, calling his development  " incredible."

So it can only be a matter of time before Urreta breaks into the senior side and proves to be a perfect replacement for the great Forlan.