Brighton will be keeping a close eye on Matías Orozco this season, and the first report back from Spain is certainly encouraging.
The 18-year-old made his CD Castellón debut on Sunday, just days after the Seagulls sent him out on loan. He needed only two training sessions before getting his first opportunity.
Orozco came on for around half an hour in the 2-0 victory over Albacete. Despite having barely met his new teammates, he immediately caught the eye.
AS say the Brighton youngster showed confidence, personality and plenty of quality. The home crowd quickly took to him as well.
The numbers help explain some of that excitement. Orozco completed all 20 of his attempted passes, with ten of those coming in the opposition half. He had 27 touches and lost possession only once.
The Colombian also completed one of his two dribbles and registered a shot. He added a tackle, an interception and won two ground duels.
That’s quite a tidy first outing for someone who had been training with Castellón for two days.
Brighton youngster makes immediate impression
There were some more eye-catching moments beyond the statistics. One late attack saw Orozco beat an opponent with a sombrero before producing a backheel for Israel Suero. The forward’s effort hit the post.
AS say he actually came close to registering two assists during his brief appearance. More importantly for Brighton, Orozco didn’t appear intimidated by the occasion.
This was his first appearance in European football, in front of nearly 13,000 supporters. AS say he was happy to get involved and take responsibility.
Orozco himself felt he had managed to show a little of what Brighton and Castellón have invested in.
“I felt I was showing what I know, showing what I’m made of,” he said.
The reception from the Castellón supporters also took him by surprise.
“I’d been told what it was like, but I didn’t expect to experience it like that,” Orozco explained. “The supporters are something I’d never experienced or felt like that before.”
He believes their backing made a difference to the team as well.
“I feel it’s vital and it gave us that extra push to go looking for it, to go and win the match.”
Early signs Brighton’s loan plan is working
The midfielder just admitted the intensity in Spain was “much higher” than he had experienced in Colombian football. He identified that as one of the main areas he needed to improve.
Two training sessions obviously aren’t enough to bridge that gap. Yet his first competitive appearance suggests he hasn’t needed much time to show the technical qualities which earned him the move to Brighton. And that’s ultimately what this season is about.
His next test could come away at Girona. Orozco already knows a little about them from their recent Champions League adventure.
“I watched them in the Champions League. I watched several of their games there,” he said.
Brighton couldn’t have asked for much more from the first few minutes of this loan. Twenty attempted passes, twenty completed. A couple of potential assists and supporters already singing his name.
It’s only around half an hour of football, of course. As first impressions go, though, this was a very good one.
