LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – MARCH 10: Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg at BayArena on March 10, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Piero Hincapie has only just turned 23 but is already an established Bundesliga player with a wealth of experience at the highest level.
The Bayer Leverkusen defender was part of the club’s unprecedented league campaign last season. Xabi Alonso He is believed to be a big fan of the youngster, which is why Hincapie agreed new terms at the BayArena last month, signing a contract that will run until 2029.
It’s a great show of loyalty from Hincapie and a testament to how much his coach values him.
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“Piero Hincapie joined us in 2021 as a 19-year-old talent.” Bayer CEO Simon Rolfes said in a club statement at the time. “But even then, you could see how confident he was in his abilities. Today, Piero is in the league of top professionals like Lionel Messi or Mo Salah. He has earned respect around the world.”
The comparisons to Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah don’t come cheap; of course there is a brilliant player who he hasn’t even reached his full potential, but who is the Ecuador international?
Where did Piero Hincapie start his career?
Hincapie started playing football at the age of seven, joining local clubs such as Escuela Refineria, Emelec and Barcelona. Finally, he took a big step forward in November 2016 by joining Independiente del Valle.
From there, he moved to Argentina to play for Talleres. And it took just 14 league outings there to pique the interest of Bayer, who brought the 19-year-old to Germany for around £6million.
What does Piero Hincapie bring to the table?
Hincapie is a remarkably tenacious and versatile defender who operates primarily on the left side of Alonso’s three-man central defence.
Blessed with a quick pace, his speed allows him to cover ground effectively, while his excellent recovery rate makes him particularly adept at defending wide areas. It’s a skill honed by his experience playing as a winger.
This season, Hincapie has won an impressive 81.8% of his tackles, while maintaining an extraordinary 91.1% passing accuracy. He embodies the qualities of a modern Bundesliga defender, capable of defending well but also being exceptional in attack, but his representatives believe he is now ready to make the move to the elite teams.
What does your agent say?
Caught offside had the opportunity to speak exclusively with Hincapie’s agent Manuel Sierra today. During the interview, Serra highlighted his client’s exceptional skills on the pitch and highlighted his exceptional character off it.
“He’s basically a warrior,” she told us. “He is a leader. He is, for me, the best left center back in the world. One of the best left backs and the best hybrid players for sure. I mean, he needs, or deserves, to play in the best places in the world. He is very happy at Bayer, but ready for the next step.
“He’s also very good at playing. He likes to win like nothing else, you know? He competes to win all the time, even when he hasn’t played that often. He’s a warrior, but most of all he’s a very good person; nice person and humble guy who knows where it comes from.”
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