Brighton & Hove Albion have made a habit of dipping into South America for emerging talent, and it is not slowing down anytime soon.
The Premier League side have built a clear recruitment pathway in the region, often moving early before prices explode. Deals like Facundo Buonanotte show how quickly they are willing to act when they spot the right profile.
That wider strategy is worth keeping in mind here, because Brighton are once again looking at a midfielder making noise in Argentina – this time Vicente Pizarro.
The Chilean only recently arrived at Rosario Central from Colo-Colo, but he has already nailed down a starting spot. His adaptation has been quick, and performances are starting to turn heads beyond Argentina.
In fact, this is not the first time British clubs have checked on him. Last year, Rangers also sent a scout to watch him.
Why Brighton are looking
Vicente Pizarro’s numbers help explain the growing attention. The 23-year-old averages around 50.88 passes per game, with an 84.89% completion rate. That shows reliability in possession.
There is also creativity in his game. He produces 1.81 key passes per match and has an expected assists figure of 0.19 per 90 minutes. That places him above 83% of players in Argentina’s top division.
Those metrics point to a midfielder who can control tempo while still creating chances – exactly the type Brighton tend to target.
According to local insider outlet TransferCanalla, Brighton are now the latest to follow him closely. And their timing could not have been better.
Scout visit in big moment
The report noted Brighton were there “just on the day he scored a goal”.
That means Vicente Pizarro was being scouted during Rosario Central’s 2-1 win over Sarmiento on April 19th. It turned into one of those matches that sticks in the memory.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Alejo Véliz had opened the scoring earlier in the game. Rosario conceded an equaliser in the second half. Then Pizarro popped up in the final moments of a dramatic stoppage time and scored the winner.
A last-gasp goal, in front of a watching Premier League scout, is about as good a showcase as it gets.
What happens next
Vicente Pizarro is still early in his spell in Argentina, but the trajectory is clear. He has gone from a recent arrival to a key player very quickly.
Colo-Colo still hold 30% of his rights, so any move would involve multiple parties. That usually adds complexity, but it also shows there is already long-term belief in his value.
For Brighton, this looks like another case of getting ahead of the curve. They are not alone in tracking him, and interest from the UK has already been there before.
Now, after a perfectly timed scouting trip and a dramatic winning goal, the noise around Pizarro is only going to grow.
