2024-08-20 19:49:52
At FC Valencia, 16-year-old David Otorbi makes history with his La Liga debut against FC Barcelona. There are already comparisons with big names.
It seemed that David Otorbi had sneaked onto the field almost unnoticed. After a drinking break in the match between FC Valencia and FC Barcelona, the replacement of the youngster was almost lost – despite its historical aspect.
At 16 years and 306 days, Otorbi made club history as the youngest Valencia player in La Liga. He replaced Diego Ribera (16 years 359 days), who had held the record since 1994.
The offensive season said on Instagram that he was “excited about my first time in La Liga in the Mestalla with our fans,” but also “sad about the defeat.” Even Otorbi could not avoid the 1-2 defeat against Hansi Flick’s Barca.
Otorbi after record debut: “Time to grow”
In his 13 minutes of action on the big stage, the potential within him could only be seen with the six ball touches he had. But it is said that the first step on the really big stage was only the beginning. “Now it’s time to grow and learn,” Otorbi wrote.
And the offensive right wing should get another chance to show himself. Ultimately, his substitution was also due to the team’s current injury concerns at this position.
“When we had to make changes in the game, we had to use young players like Otorbi, Martin Tejón and Dani Gómez. That is our reality,” explained coach Rubén Baraja afterwards. “If there is no investment, it is difficult to imagine another situation than the one we have now with the injured Fran Pérez or Sergi Canos.”
Otorbi is celebrating his professional debut in the Copa del Rey
It was already visible at the beginning of the year that the teenager Otorbi’s hour could now come. On January 7, at the age of 16 years, 2 months and 19 days, he celebrated his professional debut in the third round of the Copa del Rey against FC Cartagena and was already immortalized as the youngest player in history 105 years of the club.
Just ten days later, he also made a brief appearance in the round of 16 against Celta Vigo. He was also in the professional squad five times in La Liga last season.
“It’s at a point where it’s really developing,” Baraja said in May. “He has to learn, work, play a lot of games and make a lot of mistakes. We will try to make sure he can learn when he is with us.”
Otorbi, whose parents come from Nigeria, was born in Valencia. At the age of eleven he joined the youth department of FC Valencia. Since then, the jewel has been carefully polished. “He is a child. He has potential and we will be watching him closely,” said Baraja.
Child prodigy with a 50 million clause
Shortly after his 16th birthday, the club gave their young talent a contract until 2026 – including a 50 million euro release clause.
As is well known, such clauses are not uncommon in Spain and are common practice to discourage potential buyers. At the same time, it is also a sign for Otorbi that the club holds him in high esteem.
In any case, its development is already being closely followed in Spain. “The accomplished child who keeps setting new records in Valencia,” wrote for example The Unchecking. And for them Marking Otorbi is the “record holder for pre-arrest”.
In addition to his football development, school should not be neglected either. In Valencia, his training and lesson plans are put together in collaboration with the school so that he can combine the two.
Comparisons with Real star Vinícius Junior
In addition, there are appearances for the Spanish junior national team. Otorbi is seeded in the U17s, but his team was eliminated in the preliminary round at the European Championships in May.
When it comes to his talent on the field, big names are already being mentioned in his link. Because of his penchant for dribbling, Otorbi has sometimes been compared to Real Madrid star Vinícius Junior. Former Valencia star Goncalo Guedes is considered Otorbi’s role model.
“I was playing as a midfielder,” Otorbi said in an interview with the club’s media last year, “but now I use my speed on the wing.”
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