Chelsea signing Kendry Paez can become ‘better than Lionel Messi and Neymar,’ according to Ecuador icon Carlos Tenorio.
The 18-year-old is officially a Chelsea player, joining the club this summer two years after being originally signed. Paez was not able to move from his boyhood side Independiente del Valle to the UK until he came of age, but even now, he will not actually suit up for the Blues.
Instead, Paez has been sent on loan to BlueCo sister club Strasbourg to help him come to grips with European football in a less demanding division than the Premier League.
Paez had been training with the Ligue 1 side for several weeks, but his move was only made official earlier this week. The Ecuador international arrives in Alsace with a huge reputation.
The teenager has been a superstar in his native Ecuador since age 16 and has already racked up 18 senior appearances for his country. The attacking midfielder will take part in the Conference League playoff round with Strasbourg next season.
Paez ‘better than Messi and Neymar’
Expectations of Paez will be sky-high in France, and former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio has now seemingly only increased the pressure on the wonderkid with his lavish praise.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Tenorio described Paez as possessing the tools to eventually outshine the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar. “He has everything to be better than Leo Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and his entourage,” he said.
Tenorio added: “This is the first time I’ve seen a player with these features. I think he has everything to become one of the most important players in world football.”
Paez and Strasbourg kick off their Ligue 1 season away at promoted Metz. The Ecuadorian has been joined by a few familiar faces in Alsace, with Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, Mathis Amougou and Ishe Samuels-Smith all arriving from Chelsea this summer.
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