Portsmouth winger Gustavo Caballero is starting to build momentum in England, and his early impact is already being noticed beyond club level.
The 24-year-old, currently on loan from Santos, has been settling into life at Portsmouth in the Championship.
As we covered recently, he has offered a detailed look at his first weeks in English football, speaking positively about the intensity of the game, his adaptation process and his ambitions with the Paraguay national team.
On the pitch, Caballero is already being used regularly by Portsmouth. He has made 10 appearances in the Championship so far, starting six matches and coming off the bench three times, with one unused appearance.
Across those games, he has played around 650 minutes, scoring one goal – in the 3-1 win over Millwall.
He has mostly been used on the left wing, despite arriving as a right-sided attacker, which also highlights his tactical adaptation under the Portsmouth coaching staff.
While the numbers are still modest, his involvement shows growing trust from the coaching staff. That is particularly relevant given the physical demands of the league and the adaptation period required.
There is also a clear structure behind his move. As previously reported, Portsmouth hold an option to make the deal permanent.
The clause is tied to Caballero reaching a defined number of Championship appearances, a target described in Brazil as achievable. If triggered, the English club would pay around £4.25m (€5m) for 80% of his rights.
That context makes his current run of minutes even more important. Each appearance brings him closer not only to a long-term stay in England, but to a World Cup spot.
Alfaro highlights Caballero’s development
Of course Gustavo Caballero’s progress has not gone unnoticed in Paraguay. National team manager Gustavo Alfaro has now publicly praised the winger and explained why he is firmly on the radar, as relayed by local journalist Nelson Rene.
“I already wanted to call him up when he was at Nacional. He was doing very well at that time,” Alfaro said.
The Paraguay boss also addressed Caballero’s difficult spell after leaving South America, particularly his lack of continuity at Santos.
“Then he moved to Santos, and you expect him to play in an intense competition, but he didn’t have much continuity.”
However, the move to Portsmouth has changed that trajectory. Alfaro sees the Championship as an environment where Caballero is now proving himself.
“Then he goes to the second division in England, he gets continuity and quickly shows the abilities he has. Right now, he is one of those taking that European step.”
Profile fits Paraguay’s needs for the WC
Gustavo Caballero’s profile also fits what Paraguay are currently looking for in attack, especially in moments where the team needs a direct threat.
“We need a player who can change the game, someone with verticality, with speed, with a different step in certain moments of the match,” Alfaro explained.
He compared Caballero’s attributes to other attacking options, while pointing out that the Portsmouth winger offers a different variation within that profile.
“Enciso has it, Almirón has it, Sosa has it, but with different characteristics.”
For Portsmouth, that external recognition underlines the value of Caballero’s adaptation period. As his minutes increase, so does his visibility – both for a permanent move and for international football.
If he keeps up his form, Portsmouth might soon be counting on a player with World Cup pedigree.
