Mexico international Julián Araujo, who switched from the United States to El Tri in 2021, has been recognized on both sides of the border after establishing himself as the LA Galaxy starter in 2020. Two-time MLS All-Star.
Despite a period of uncertainty caused by an 18-second delay past the January transfer window deadline, the 21-year-old joined European giants FC Barcelona for a club-record $4 million transfer fee. With his resignation, the Galaxy have lost a clear first choice in right-sided defense.
LA moved quickly, signing Lucas Callegari on a one-season loan deal from Brazil’s Fluminense to take on the responsibilities left in Araujo’s absence.
However, it is not easy to replace a player who has moved to Barcelona. Ask Liverpool.
In 2010, midfield anchor Javier Mascherano joined Catalonia from Merseyside after establishing himself as one of the best midfield trios in the Premier League in the 2000s alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. Combined with his replacements Raul Meirelles and Christian Poulsen, he made just 47 appearances. Four years later, striker Luis Suárez left Anfield for the Camp Nou and Liverpool looked to replace Cristian Benteke and Mario Balotelli with 31 goals in 33 league games. It was a terrible disaster.
Liverpool made amends by signing Fabinho and goalkeeper Alisson with the money they received from selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018. Signing the 2019 and his 2020 Champions League and Premier League winners lifted them from the fray. But his going 1-for-3 in the 2010s shows the difficulties that Galaxy head his coach, Greg Vanny, could face in replacing Araujo.
Like Araujo, the 21-year-old Calegari possesses versatility, creativity and a great talent for stealing the ball with high presses. These are all important attributes for Vanney’s possession-based style of wingback.
To compare him to Araujo, he returned for the 2021 season after Callegari lost his starting lineup last year. Also, he has played less time, so the graphs below have been adjusted to account for his smaller sample size.
Above diagram explaining the definition hereindicates that Araujo manages the ball better, given his better possession (52 out of 99). He also increased his xG from the amount of carries and dribbles (74 out of 99), number of shots (46 out of 99), receiving inside the opponent’s box (48 out of 99), and his progression on both balls. appear to be even more of a threat in the future. (32 out of 99) and making shots (36 out of 99). However, smarterscout rates his Calegari as the more effective defender, who will take the roster slot in his U22 initiative previously occupied by Araujo. His high defensive impact (71 out of 99) and disruptive opponent moves (93 out of 99) make him an excellent ball his winner.
Callegari’s poor possession of the ball is a concern, especially for a possession-focused Galaxy. However, it could be a result of the role he was instructed to play in Brazil’s Serie A. Roger Marchado’s Palmeiras team focused on attacking via high-paying line breaks and transition opportunities where his pass was prioritized. To hold possessions that are part of Calegali’s game under Bunny.
But there’s no line break pass that Galaxy’s coach can pull out of his game right away. Below is a picture of Callegali carrying the ball into the opponent’s half during the Brazil U20’s victory over Chile. He found striker Gustavo his Maia run, pulled away from the Chilean central defender in the box and shaped Farr to cross towards his post.
Callegari then fired a perfect cross to the striker’s head about eight yards from goal. Maia didn’t make a mistake, he headed the ball into the ground and into the goal.
It was a skillful cross and showed Callegari’s ability to create chances from the right flank with a stronger right foot. But what makes him particularly unique is that he can comfortably do the same thing with his left foot.
He is equally comfortable playing on either side of the back four and has spent most of his time at left-back in Brazil. Despite his ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations, Callegari can be created from the wing in several ways.
Below, Callegari, who was playing from the left side of the defense, was able to dribble the ball to the wing and make a pass with his weak left foot.
Instead, he cut back inside the marker and curled a cross into the box with his right foot.
Beneath it, in a slightly deeper, more central position, he cut to the inside and found Samuel Xavier right behind who made a penetrating run past Lezande’s defense.
With Xavier, who had a few yards of space near the opposition’s box, Callegari created a goal-scoring chance by sending an accurate and well-timed pass over the defense to his teammates’ feet.
Unfortunately for Callegari, who has two assists for Fluminense since his debut in 2019, Xavier missed an opportunity with a wild effort that flew over Jo Anderson’s crossbar.
It’s unclear at this stage if Vanny plans to play him at left-back, but Callegari’s ability to use both feet will also help him when playing in his more comfortable right-back position. shows a 20-year-old player receiving the ball with his back to the goal in a Copa Libertadores match against a calm defense.
Without the ability to use either foot, Callegari’s opportunities to advance the ball would have been limited. His ability to play line-breaking passes with his left foot opens up the field.
In this instance, he found central midfielder Yago Felipe’s sharp run and with his weaker foot, put an accurate pass over the defense into his own pass.
Felipe won’t be able to capitalize on the opportunity, but his willingness to make a breathtaking run from midfield could underscore his perception that Callegari have the qualities to find him. .
At the Galaxy, Mark Delgado, known for his impressive engine and ability to create third-man runs over opposing defenses, can have a productive relationship with Callegari from central midfield.
Carregari’s ability to use both feet is also useful when playing as an inverted fullback. Douglas Costa and Efrain Alvarez (who usually play on the right side in front of his Calegari) also prefer to occupy half the space between the touchline and the central area, but Vanney shows off his Calegari qualities. I look forward to the opportunity to try it. Make the most of his MLS season in 2023.
In the image below, Callegari occupies a narrow position that resembles a 4-3-3 right-sided central midfielder, running in front of Fluminense’s left-footed right winger Luis Enrique.
Callegari doesn’t have the speed of an athlete, but his intelligent moves allowed Henrique to find him inside Milonarios’ defenders with a complicated pass, and Callegari received the ball and carried it into the box.
Callegari then sent a square pass across the box to Kano, and Kano’s effort was saved from close range. Callegari excels at line breaking his pass, but his athleticism and intelligent movement make him a useful player even without the ball. His expectations aren’t just about possession, his high pressing is arguably his best defensive quality.
Defense was Callegari’s main calling card at Fluminense, as smarterscout’s data shows. Especially in high-press situations. In a league as intense in physicality and transition as the MLS, his ability to steal the ball high in the opposition half is important for a Bunny whose possession-based ideology presupposes quick recovery after losing possession.
In the image below, Calegari has identified a Sport Club do Recife defender who played a chance to win the ball after a stray pass to his teammate. Callegari jumped at the chance and won possession close to the opponent’s box.
He used his dribbling ability to carry the ball into the sport’s box, beat several defenders along the way, and played smart ball near the penalty spot.
Still, the above situation is one that Vanney could aim to reproduce. And Callegari has proven himself to be a skilled operator in such situations.
Replacing a player moving to Barcelona is a tall order for any club, regardless of the Galaxy. Persons expected to receive P-1 visas to enter the United States this weekVanny has pedigree players with the age profile and technical quality to add a new and potentially transformative dimension to a team with title ambitions.
(Photo above: DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
