797 players updated 

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Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 797 players plying their craft in Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol, and once again, young talented players stand out. At the top of the market value ranking is young attacking midfielder, Claudio Echeverri, who has already agreed to join Premier League champions Manchester City. The 18-year-old, however, isn’t the only young talent making his name in the league, as 21-year-old Ezequiel Fernández and 16-year-old Franco Mastantuono are also big winners of the market value update. 

One thing is certain: the Liga Profesional de Fútbol update underlines Echeverri’s status as one of South America’s biggest talents. “There is no doubt he is Argentina’s most promising player,” Area Manager Argentina and South America Scott Christensen said. “He is only 18 but already plays like an experienced player. Echeverri is very creative in the attack, is a good dribbler and passer, and has a great long shot. Voted the MVP of the Liga Profesional, Man City were fast to secure him for €18.5m, which was another reason for his market value to increase.” With a market value increase from €15m to €18m, Echeverri is now the most valuable player in Argentina. 

Echeverri isn’t the only big River Plate talent to have seen his market value increase in the update. Indeed, with a market value increase of €6m to €10m, 16-year-old River Plate midfielder Mastantuono is now one of the five most valuable players born in 2007. “River sold Echeverri, and the next promising star was already in the pipeline,” Christensen said. “Only 16, he has already shown a big personality and is linked with top European clubs like Real Madrid. An attacking midfielder, Mastantuono is expected to take Echeverri’s place next season. Head coach Martín Demichelis has mostly used him from the bench, but his potential is huge. He is a very similar player to Echeverri, although maybe less technically gifted while physically stronger.”

Argentina market value update: Boca talent Equi Fernández one to watch

In Echeverri and Mastantuono, River Plate have two of the hottest prospects in Argentina. But city rivals Boca Juniors also have a rising star in their ranks in Equi Fernández. “Fernández is a strong central midfielder, aggressive, good with both feet, and has great defensive skills while also having good vision to orchestrate attacking plays,” Christensen said. “It is clear that Boca’s performances change when he isn’t on the pitch as he is the player to control the team’s tempo.”

Teams abroad have also noticed, and there are strong rumours linking Fernández to Porto. “His release clause is €15m, and he will be leaving for that amount,” Christensen added. With that in mind, Fernández’s market value increase by 55.6% to €14m, making him Argentina’s second most valuable player is only consequential.

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).