Nicolas Gaitan – Boca’s very own David Silva

By: Brett | November 17th, 2009

nico

He’s a few months short of his 22nd birthday. He wears the number 28 shirt and his idol is Juan Roman Riquelme. He’s the son of laburantes (a term loosely used to describe labourers…and thieves) parents and his childhood was spent selling plants on trains with his brothers. And playing football. His name is Osvaldo Nicolas Fabian Gaitan. Or, to anyone who knows him, Nico.

Last year Spanish side Almeria tried to buy him. Their bid of close to a million euros was quickly rejected by both player and club. ” I discussed the offer with my family and my agent. I didn’t want to leave Boca. Then we went to talk with Pompilio (late Boca President Pedro Pompilio) and he asked me to be patient and stay calm because I was going to get far. And he was right …”

He certainly was. There will be more offers – sooner rather than later one suspects. In just over a year, the kid from San Martin who grew up in the neighbourhood of Joseph C. Peace in the west of Buenos Aires, has become a vital member of the Boca squad. Martin Palermo calls him a “a key player”, despite is (relative) inexperience. Former manager, Carlos Ischia also noting, “We have high hopes for him. He’s a skillful player, mentally and athletically quick, and (he) can operate on one side or the other with equal ease.” The new kid on the Boca block’s star is certainly rising. And fast.

His big break came on June 1, 2008. He wasn’t on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over his weekend’s opponents Arsenal de Sarandi, but he was a month later. Two goals in Boca’s 3-0 win over a Huracan side sporting Javier Pastore and Matias De Federico on the final day of August catapulted him into the spotlight. A place he has been ever since.

Not that he was all that much of an overnight sensation. He’s been at Boca since he was nine, rising, little by little, through the ranks. A few years back, following some impressive performances in the youth team, people began to talk of this “left-sided wonder.” But, others doubted his ability to make it because he was, they said, a bit “skinny”.

Remind you of anyone?

The parallels between the Boca prodigy and Valencia magician David Silva are eery. Getting past the obvious aesthetic similarities – they both weigh in at around 67kg, stand at around five and half feet tall and possess tremendous left foots – it’s the footballing similarities which are just as noticeable.

Both are able to play on the wing or in support of the main striker (something Nico has done more and more of this season), but are happiest as an attacking midfielder. Both are known for their quick, intelligent runs off the ball and vision and creativity with it. Both their teams have that ‘tad more’ about them when they’re out there. A tad more danger. A tad more spark. A tad more edge.

And that’s the thing about players like Silva. And Gaitan. They provide their teams with that something special. Their team plays better when they are around. This was plain to see on Sunday evening at the Julio H. Grondona Stadium in Sarandi. The most influential Boca player on the park, Nico was at the heart of every decent attacking move his team put together. Just before the half hour, he capped off a fine piece of team play with a delightful ball which sat up nicely for Gary Medel, whose powerful finish gave Boca the lead.

In the end, however, Nico’s performance was one of only a few positives to take away from another inconsistent performance from Los Xenienes. Their failure to hold off a determined Arsenal side, a wonderful Cristian Alvarez free kick pulling them level with fifteen minutes to go, almost certainly sees them drop out of the Apertura running. The Copa Libertadores is still within reach, but with five games to go, they can’t afford the six point gap between themselves and Estudiantes in fourth get any greater.

One thing is for sure, if Boca are to overcome this deficit and qualify for South America’s premier club competition, it will be in no small part thanks to Nico Gaitan – their very own David Silva.

Arsenal de Sarandi 1-1 Boca. Here are the goals: