Top four stars dominate our best South American’s list…
fanatix has compiled our list of the top 10 South Americans currently playing in the Premier League.
Unlucky to miss out? Lucas, Ramires, Gaston Ramirez and Sandro… (and probably Willian when he signs!)
10) Antonio Valencia – Manchester United & Ecuador
The Ecuadorian dynamic winger has been crucial to Manchester United since joining from Wigan in 2009, and has gone on to win two Premier League titles, and the Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year award in 2011.
9) Paulinho – Tottenham & Brazil
£17m for this Brazilian powerhouse seems like a great bit of business by Andre Villas-Boas. Paulinho shone in the Confederations Cup this summer, neutralising Iniesta and Xavi in the final – and his style suits the Premier League perfectly.
8) Rafael – Manchester United & Brazil
The ever-improving right-back is destined to start in the position for years to come. His aggression, fitness and ability on the ball already make him one of the best fullbacks in the league, and at 23-years-old, he will only get better.
7) Coutinho – Liverpool & Brazil
The Brazilian magician is talent personified – and Liverpool could well face another Luis Suarez type transfer saga in a few summers if they don’t qualify for the Champions League soon. Has adapted brilliantly to the Premier League.
6) Fernandinho – Manchester City & Brazil
As of yet, the biggest transfer into the Premier League this summer. The £30m Brazilian is set to take the Premier League by storm. Fantastic technical ability and an engine to rival anyone in the country, Fernandinho’s partnership with Yaya Toure could be formidable.
5) Pablo Zabaleta – Manchester City & Argentina
Zabaleta arrived at the Etihad before the new owners bought the club, and in the past few seasons has established himself as the best right-back in the Premier League. Zabaleta never stops working, and Sky Blues fans love his commitment to the cause, and his barnstorming runs up the flank.
4) Oscar – Chelsea & Brazil
Already starts for Brazil at just 22-years-old, keeping the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Lucas Moura, Coutinho, Willian and Fernandinho out of the team. That’s how good he is… Oscar has two fantastic feet. and a wonderful ability to pick out on-running forwards. We just hope he gets game time at Chelsea, who boast an enormous array of attacking talent.
3) David Luiz – Chelsea & Brazil
If Luiz erases the odd defensive mishap from his game, we’re talking about potentially the best centre-half in world football. The big haired Brazilian has all the attributes of a modern centre-half, and if Mourinho can shape him up defensively, their £25m investment from Benfica seems a bargain.
2) Sergio Aguero – Manchester City & Argentina
People forget just how good a player Sergio Aguero actually is because of last season’s injury problems. Having scored in the first game of this term though, Aguero looks back to his best – ready to take the league by storm once more. The forward will forever be a City hero as his last minute winner guaranteed the Sky Blues the title back in 2011/12 on the last day of the season.
1) Luis Suarez – Liverpool & Uruguay
Arguably the best player in the Premier League full stop. For all the controversy that surrounds the Uruguayan, Suarez is quite simply; a brilliant, brilliant footballer. Last season he added goals to his already polished game, and the only surprise is that he’s still a Liverpool player. When he’s on his game, for better or worse – anything is possible on a football field.
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