Paez is simply a grounds breaker and a header maker.
He became the youngest debutant and goalscorer successful Ecuadorian top-flight past astatine the property of 15 earlier making his debut successful the Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, aboriginal that aforesaid season.
Later successful 2023, aged 16 years and 131 days, helium made his 2nd quality for Ecuador, becoming the second-youngest South American planetary to diagnostic successful World Cup qualifying aft Diego Maradona.
A period later, helium became the youngest South American to people successful a World Cup qualifier successful a 2-1 triumph distant to Bolivia.
It was understandable, therefore, that Chelsea believed the attacker, who had 2 planetary goals and 18 caps erstwhile they agreed to motion him, was destined for large things.
Chelsea allowed him to bid regularly with the archetypal squad earlier helium was officially eligible to articulation the nine pursuing his 18th birthday.
They besides provided information for Paez, his household and the household of planetary team-mate Moises Caicedo aft unit broke retired successful Ecuador successful aboriginal 2024.
A fewer months later, Paez was filmed successful a New York portion nine portion distant connected planetary duty.
He initially impressed connected indebtedness astatine Chelsea's sister nine Strasbourg by winning September's Young Player of the Month grant successful the French apical flight, but past came successful for disapproval from then-manager Liam Rosenior.
"We expect more, clearly," Rosenior said aboriginal that season. "I'm bushed of utilizing the excuse of the player's youth."
Despite Strasbourg's links to Chelsea done their shared ownership, the indebtedness was chopped abbreviated aft 1 extremity successful 21 appearances. Instead, helium joined Argentine giants River Plate connected a two-year indebtedness spell.
Sources successful Argentina expressed akin concerns astir his cognition erstwhile asked by BBC Sport. They constituent to a disappointing show successful the 1-0 Superclasico decision by fierce rivals Boca Juniors astatine the Monumental successful April.
Shortly afterwards, Paez was named by nine president Stefano Di Carlo arsenic 1 of 15 players grooming distant from River Plate's archetypal team, though different sources felt helium could person been fixed much opportunities.
His indebtedness ended by communal consent aft Paez scored erstwhile successful 14 appearances successful 461 minutes for River Plate.
Ahead of the planetary break, interest has been expressed successful Ecuador, having built him up arsenic the country's adjacent large attacking talent.
Michel Deller, the proprietor of Independiente, told Hincha Amarillo: "He's similar a lad to us. We attraction astir him deeply.
"He's a bully kid who's had a pugnacious clip and has made decisions that person analyzable his life.
"We are ever hopeful he'll amusement his exceptional endowment 1 again but close now, it's up to him to determine what to bash with his life."
These concerns are not dismissed wholly by Chelsea oregon Paez's environment. However, determination is simply a content they are grossly overstated, highlighting helium is owed clip to turn arsenic a subordinate and person.
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