Sunderland have triumphed over Chelsea and Barcelona to sign 18-year-old forward Juan Riquelme Angulo. The decisive factor was head coach Regis Le Bris's assurance that the young talent would not be loaned out.
Last summer, Sunderland secured the Ecuadorian from Independiente del Valle on the final day of the transfer window, with reports suggesting a deal worth between €4 million and €5.8 million.
Angulo caught the eye of European clubs after a promising start to his career back home, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 23 appearances for Independiente, playing both as a central striker and on the wing.
According to Radio Diblu, both Chelsea and Barcelona made concrete attempts to sign the player, but each had plans to send him out on loan immediately.
Journalist Andres Ponce revealed:
I was informed that Juan Riquelme Angulo received offers from Barcelona, who intended to loan him out to another club.
Chelsea showed serious interest right up to the last day before his move to Sunderland, and they also planned to send him out on loan.
In contrast to their competitors, Sunderland offered the young forward a chance to become an integral part of the first team straight away.
Ponce explained:
The Sunderland coach personally requested to sign the player and stated: 'I do not intend to loan him out. He will be my third striker.'
This clear commitment from Regis Le Bris ultimately swayed Angulo to reject the options with Chelsea and Barcelona.
Since moving to England, it’s clear the player has been given a platform to showcase his talents.
In September, Angulo played for Sunderland's youth team against Norwich, and during the latest international break, he debuted for the senior Ecuadorian national team, scoring in a friendly against Panama.
Last weekend, he also made his debut in the Premier League for Sunderland, coming on in a losing effort against Brighton.
Currently, Angulo finds himself in third place in Sunderland's striker hierarchy, following Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidora, which means his playing time is somewhat limited.
Nonetheless, the Ecuadorian has already taken his first steps into senior football at the APL level. Had he joined Chelsea or Barcelona, he likely would have started the season on loan.
In a surprising twist, Sunderland managed to outmaneuver two European giants not with a more lucrative financial offer but by presenting a specific plan for Angulo’s development.
