Football Wyscout Opponent Scouting

Ramón Sosa - Winger Making Waves at Talleres

25 Mar, 2024

3 Min Read

By Golazo

The Paraguayan winger has been one of the stars of the Argentinian Primera Division, providing pace, goals and assists from out wide.

"An offer came that would have been the most expensive sale in the history of the club and meant economic stability for 3 years for us, but we decided to prioritise sports. It was a very hard decision.”

Time will tell whether Talleres president Andrés Fassi made the right call after knocking back a reported $12 million offer from LA Galaxy for Paraguayan winger Ramón Sosa in January. But what is undeniably true is in the short term, La T have kept arguably the best attacking player in Argentina at the moment.

Sosa’s tally of 8 goals and 6 assists in 32 appearances across 2023 saw Talleres finish second behind River Plate in Argentina’s annual table and with it book a spot in this year’s CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.

A further improved output of 4 goals and 4 assists in 11 games this season is perhaps representative of Sosa’s development in Córdoba and testament to Talleres’ outstanding recruitment.

Ramón Sosa tops the expected goals and assists (xG+A) charts for the 2024 Copa de la Liga in Wyscout Rankings

Not that Sosa was an unknown when Talleres paid $2.3 million for 50% of the players’ rights to fellow Argentinian club Gimnasia in January 2023, but there were still question marks surrounding the Paraguayan.

Most notably with his end product. From a career that began with River Plate in Paraguay, took him to giants Olimpia in 2021 and then to Argentina with Gimnasia a year later, Sosa had made 91 appearances scoring 13 goals.

For all his pace and trickery there was a feeling that he often made the wrong choice or was wasteful in the final third. Some of those doubts remain (and despite his strong numbers this season, Sosa still underachieves his xG+A) and yet the progress is clear. As a difference maker or potential match winner, there are currently none better in Argentina.

Ramón Sosa's shot map - Wyscout Player Report

And it’s that directness, straight-line speed, quick feet and appetite to get shots off which marks him out.

Sosa’s shot map shows a variety of distances but almost all coming from his starting position off the left wing and coming inside onto his favoured right foot. His powerful striking allowing for shots from outside the penalty area while his pace and positioning seeing him play off the last defender to punish space behind or arrive on the end of crosses from the right.

Ramón Sosa's dribbles in final third - Wyscout Player Report

When opposition defences wisely try and sit deeper to limit the space, Sosa is equally comfortable receiving the ball into his feet. Only three players in the Copa de la Liga have completed more dribbles than the 24-year-old, with Sosa averaging 8.13 per 90. Many of these resulting in shots, if not goals.

Ball carrying not only allows Sosa to unlock defences but helps Talleres move up the field quickly, often utilising the counter to great effect. His 3.57 progressive runs per 90 rank among the best in the league.

Ramón Sosa's ball progression - Wyscout Player Report

While his passing isn’t eye catching and has a complete rate of only 74.7%, it is worth bearing in mind where Sosa is operating on the pitch and what he is trying to do almost every time he is in possession. Many of these are forward and his 2.86 passes into the penalty area per 90 is a comparable figure when compared to the league’s other wingers.

2.5 crosses por 90 and the responsibility of many of Talleres’ set-pieces highlights Sosa’s quality and have helped produce 4 assists, second only to River Plate’s Esequiel Barco.

Ramón Sosa's penalty area deliveries - Wyscout Player Report

One area of improvement for Sosa is out of possession. Recoveries and particularly counterpressing recoveries are two metrics that top European sides may want to see more from the Talleres star - Sosa’s 1.61 counterpressing recoveries per 90 is not even in the top 100 of attacking players in this year’s Copa de la Liga.

Upon appearance that is not down to any discernible lack of effort and while potential suitors may want to see more this feels very coachable.

Ramón Sosa's recoveries - Wyscout Player Report

A Libertadores campaign and a Copa América having forced his way into the Paraguay side it looks to be a big 2024 for Sosa. Having already turned 24 the window for a European move is gradually getting smaller yet he is proving with regularity that he could be worth a punt. If not, another MLS attempt or the big money from Brazil would also be options and it makes a Sosa’s future in Córdoba in doubt.

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