Former Barcelona and Holland legend Johan Cruyff has warned rising
Racing Santander star Sergio Canales of the risks of swapping the
Cantabrian club for one of Europe's big boys at such a young age.
The 18-year-old Canales has attracted plenty of attention in
recent weeks after netting five goals in his last four Primera
Division games, with his latest effort being a cool lobbed finish
in Sunday night's 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid.
A host of big-name clubs have already been linked with the
teenage playmaker, with Real Madrid believed to be the very front
of the queue.
However, Cruyff feels Canales is probably better off staying
where he is for the next few years.
"I don't know if he will end up signing for Madrid or not, or
for any other big club. The only thing that I hope is that, being
so young, he isn't ruined," said the recently-installed Catalonia
coach in his column in El Periodico.
"With the youngsters at Ajax who excelled in the first team
and who were the targets of big clubs outside of Holland, my advice
was always the same: stay at least until you are 21, and if you
stay until 23, then even better.
"First get used to the pressure of winning in your own
country, and that will then stand you in good stead for playing
abroad.
"At 18 years old and with only a few games in the Primera
Division, joining a big club is attractive, but it carries a risk
because the destination is not the youth team.
"At 18 you have so much to learn, as a person and as a
footballer, so if you leave for a big club too soon your
development isn't complete and you could end up going backwards. So
much so that you could end up being ruined. There are exceptions,
yes, but that's what they are, exceptions.
"I already know that he (Canales) could sign (for a big club)
and then go out on loan. That's a less aggressive option, but it
also has its risks.
"Football is a short career, but not so short. If you have
quality at 18 and you do things well, you have a mountain of years
ahead of you.
"At 18 you don't need many zeros in your bank account. What
you need is to play and develop. And if it is in the Primera
Division, then better, and that is where he already is. There is
time to earn money with a big team, especially if you are 18."
