| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua | ||
| Date of birth | 18 January 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Medellín, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Porto | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2008 | Envigado | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008–2011 | Envigado | 40 | (4) |
| 2011–2013 | Atlético Nacional | 16 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | → Pescara (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2013– | Porto | 8 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2013– | Colombia U20 | 13 | (8) |
| 2012– | Colombia | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2013 | |||
Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua (born 18 January 1993) is a Colombian footballer who plays as anattacking midfielder for Porto in the Primeira Liga.[1][2]
He has been mentioned among the more coveted young players in European football by The Times of London. At the age of 19, Quintero already started to receive praise for his impressive performances during his time in Italy. During his time of the 2013 South American Youth Championship, he has been recognized as not only one of the most promising youth aspects from only South America, but the world.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Quintero has represented Colombia since he was 19, making his official debut in 2012 against Cameroon. At the 2013 South American Youth Championships, he led Colombia to their 3rd title while voted as the tournament's MVP for contributing more than any other player for his respective nation.[9][10][11][12][13] He also took part in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey where he gained more praised for his talents after creating a huge impact in the tournament.[14][15]
His overall size and style of play as well as his left-foot has led him to be compared to Lionel Messi.[14][16]
Career
Envigado
Born in Medellín, Colombia, he joined the youth squad for Envigado after an impressive performance during a youth tournament that took place in Medellin.[17]
Atlético Nacional
Quintero joined the ranks of Atlético Nacional during 2011.
Loan to Pescara
He then joined the ranks of Serie A Pescara months after joining Nacional, wasting no time in impressing European scouts.[18][19]
It was reported in early 2013 that Inter Milan and Udinese have confirmed their bidding interest. Although Udinese is the only club to have made an official bid.[20]
In early April 2013, it was reported that Quintero suffered an injury and would be out for a month.
In mid May 2013, Quintero posted on Twitter 'good bye and thank you' to Pescara, hinting that he was to leave in the Italian side in the summer. While Pescara claimed that he has not been 'sold', it hinted Quintero's desire to leave the club overall. [21][22]
Porto
On July 1, 2013, it was reported by Pescara's president, Daniele Sebastiani, that Portuguese giants F.C. Porto were on the verge of signing Quintero for around €10 million (later confirmed to be €5 million).[23][24] Quintero himself then stated that he would sign a four-year contract with the club after a medical check was done.[25] Porto later confirmed the official signing days later, while stating that Quintero had a €40 million release clause.[2]
Quintero made his first full debut appearance in the 2013 Emirates Cup against Napoli. He assisted Porto's first goal and received a standing ovation from the stadium after being subbed off for giving a wonderful performance.[26]
2013-14 season[
Quintero's first 'official' match with Porto began with the 2013 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, where he was subbed in at the 76th minute where Porto were already ahead by 3-0. Porto went on to win the match, thus giving Quintero's very first silverware not only in Europe, but in his club career.
Quintero debut in his first league match for the club against Vitoria Setubal, coming on as a sub and scoring less than a minute later.[27] Quintero provided his first assist for the club two weeks later against P. Ferreira in a 1-0 victory.[28] In a match against Vitória de Guimarães, Quintero drew a penalty that was successfully converted, thus granting him an assist in a 1-0 home victory. Quintero came in on the 90th minute against F.C. Arouca where he was then fouled near the box. He then converted an impressive free kick goal, seconds after only coming in.[29]
In late October, Quintero suffered a hamstring injury, expecting to be out for a month.[30]
International career
Youth
2013 South American Youth Championship
Quintero was called to represent Colombia wearing the number 10 jersey at the 2013 South American Youth Championship.[6][31] In the first match against Paraguay, he was voted man of the match after an impressive display setting up the 1-0 victory goal. In the match against a powerful Chile team, Quintero scored a penalty although Colombia lost 2-1.[32] In the match against Bolivia, Quintero assisted 4 of the 6 goals in a big 6-0 victory.[33] In the final group stage match against Argentina, Colombia had already qualified thus he did not play until the second half where he scored with an amazing 50 yard free kick despite losing the match 2-3.[34][35]
In the first match of the final round, Quintero scored again from an impressive distance in a 2-1 victory over Ecuador.[36] This brought his goal tally to 3 and his assist tally to 4.[31] Quintero scored with a penalty against Peru in a 1-0 allowing Colombia to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.[37] In the final match against Paraguay who were also Colombia's very first opponent in the U20 South American Youth Championships, he scored a goal in a 2-1 victory where Colombia won the Youth Championships in South America for the 3rd time. In total, Quintero had scored 5 goals and assisted 4 making him MVP of the championship for contributing more than any other player in the tournament.[12]
Quintero was set to join the U20 squad again for the 2013 Toulon Tournament, but Pescara refused to allow him to his call-up.[38] Prior to the U-20 World Cup, Quintero scored with an impressive free kick in a friendly against the U-20 squad of France.[39]
2013 U-20 FIFA World Cup
His goal against El Salvador was later voted as best goal of the tournament.[45]Quintero played an entertaining opening match performance of the U-20 FIFA World Cup that was held in Turkey. He made impressive shots with his free kicks as well as creating impressive chances. He set up Colombia's goal in the 78th minute where the game ended 1-1.[41] In the match against host nation Turkey, Quintero scored a wonderful goal from outside the box (20 yards), winning the game 1-0 and allowing Colombia to top the group.[42] In the last group match against El Savador, Quintero assisted the first goal and sealed the victory with an amazing 25 yard goal, allowing Colombia to win 3-0 and win the group.[43] Quintero then played in the next match against South Korea, and managed to save Colombia into extra time with an impressive free kick in the last few seconds of full-time. However, Colombia went on to lose on penalties eventually where he scored one in a 7-8 loss.[44] Despite Colombia failing to progress, Quintero was praised as the best player in the group stages.[2][15]
Senior
In 2012, Quintero was called for the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Peru and Ecuador, but was never subbed in. Only on his third call in a friendly match against Cameroon where Quintero made his official debut in the same year.
Playing style
Due to his size, Quintero naturally has a lower center of gravity allowing him to have higher balance, agility, and speed similar to that of Lionel Messi. Despite many other young talents drawing comparisons to Messi as well, Quintero is highlighted to be a very 'close replica' to the point where he also been referenced to a 'Diego Maradona' as well. Although all these are natural comparisons due to the fact that he can also effectively run with the ball in limited spaces, and maintain a very sharp technical mindset to that of the Argentinean legends themselves. However, despite the comparisons, Quintero does not carry the strength of Maradona nor is he balanced with his weak foot like Messi.[14][16][48][49][50]Quintero is well known for his creativity for playmaking and as a supportive player in general.[4][5] His ball control and dribbling has stood him out from most players his age as well as his free kicks, which he has shown to be profound in.[47] Left footed, Quintero is sometimes considered to be another 'James Rodríguez' due to their similar traits (as well as being only 2 years younger, while also playing for the youth national squads of Colombia after Rodriguez's time), although Rodriguez plays more of a forward midfielder/winger whereas Quintero plays more in a neutral mid-center position. This means that he fully commits to a playmaker role, although he does contain remarkable dribbling ability and carries high accuracy with shots on goal. His reactions have shown to be on equal levels with his speed as well.
Although, Quintero states that his main inspiration was from watching Brazilian legend Rivaldo as a child
