The journey of Suso from Liverpool reject to show runner at a new look Milan side
Since the era of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, Liverpool failed to produce a top talent from the academy for years until Raheem Sterling emerged in 2012.
Around the same time, another youngster playing in the academy broke into the first team, but he was not English. There were plenty of rave reviews about the player while he was with the youth team and his style of play drew comparisons with David Silva.
It is difficult to emphasize how talented this young Spaniard was. Back in 2010, Liverpool fended off interest from Real Madrid to sign the coveted player from the academy of Cadiz.
"I came to Valdebebas to see the facilities and the deal was practically done but upon returning to Cadiz, Liverpool called me and my representatives and at that time there were not many young players playing in Spain, there wasn't a gamble on youth like there was in England," he intimated.
On 23 September 2012, an injury to Fabio Borini during a game against Manchester United forced Brendan Rodgers to give a Premier League debut to Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáenz de la Torre aka Suso!
The youngster had an immediate impact as his mazy run and pass led to Liverpool’s goal which was scored by Steven Gerrard. It looked like the Reds had a gem in their hands.
From a gem to a flop
Liverpool wanted to ensure that Suso got adequate playing time to progress and hence he was loaned to La Liga club Almeria for the 2013/14 season. He played 35 games for the club that season scoring three goals and assisting seven more.
Upon returning from loan, many expected Rodgers to give Suso a chance with the first team. However, six months later, he was sold to AC Milan for a mere €1.3 million.
Suso moved to Milan in a quest to kick start his senior career but he found first team opportunities hard to come by at a struggling Milan side and made just eight appearances in his first year with the club. Eventually, he was loaned to Genoa for the second half of the 2015/16 season.
Rebirth
Suso’s move to Genoa was the turning point of his career. He played 19 games for them, scoring six goals which included a hat trick against Frosinone, making him only the second Spanish player to score three goals in a Serie A game since Luis Suarez for Inter Milan against Genoa in 1963.
He returned to Milan the following season and was finally ready to do justice to the talent he had shown during his teenage days. The advent of Suso had begun.
In the 2016/17 season, Milan finished 6th in the league but Suso was a standout player for them. He finished the season with seven goals and nine assists in Serie A and also assisted Giacomo Bonaventura's equalizing goal in the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus which Milan later won on penalties.
The highlight of his season though was a brace against Inter Milan at the San Siro!
Such was his impact on a lackluster Milan side that the there were several rumours linking him with a move away from the San Siro and the player said he rejected the approach of three clubs in the Champions League to stay at Milan.
The new Chinese owners assured a new era at Milan and Suso was one of the very few existing players who were going to be part of the new look side.
Two games into the current Serie A season, the Spaniard has proved that he is still the main man at Milan with a goal and an assist in both games. This included a sublime free kick in the game against Cagliari.
A lot of credit for Suso’s development goes to Milan manager Vincenzo Montella who trusted the player and Suso knows that very well. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport last year, the 23-year-old said the following:
“At Liverpool there was no going forward and I needed an opportunity, that’s why I chose Milan, who for me are a top European club. It was hard at first, but then I was given an opportunity thanks to Montella.”
And Montella had these words about Suso:
"He has enormous potential, but needs to grow in his consistency and also self-confidence. He is a little shy and ought to take more risks in the final third. He has to be more incisive, because he has the quality to do that."
Although Brendan Rodgers sold Suso, back in 2012, he had similar words to say about him. Rodgers said "he still has a lot to learn" and added that "if his fight matches his talent then we will have a very good player."
It looks like the Spaniard has finally added that fight to his game.
The big step up to the Spanish National Team
Suso’s brilliance for Milan didn’t go unnoticed as he was drafted into the Spain team for the first time for their upcoming matches against Italy and Liechtenstein. More importantly, he was called up when the likes of Juan Mata, Lucas Vasquez, Jose Callejon and Cesc Fabregas were overlooked.
“If he’s been called it’s because he is talented and he deserves this call-up. He’s a good dribbler and has qualities which suit our style of play," Spain manager Julen Lopetegui said.
Lopetegui knows the talent Suso possesses better than anyone. He was the manager of the Spanish team that won the UEFA European U-19 Championship in 2012 and Suso was part of the team. Later, he played under the same manager at the U-20 and U-21 level.
It makes sense for the manager to call up a young player with vast potential and currently on top of his game. If Suso can keep this form up, then Liverpool will live to regret the day they sold one of the best talents in Europe for a mere €1.3 million.