United States international Ricardo Pepi has named ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata as his surprising source of striking inspiration.
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- American frontman starring in the Netherlands
- Is a big fan of Mexican frontman Jimenez
- Likens himself to Spain international
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The exciting 20-year-old forward is in the process of trying to forge his own reputation as a fearsome frontman in European football. He left FC Dallas for Augsburg in Germany back in 2022, but burst into life last season when hitting 13 goals during a productive loan spell at Groningen. Pepi is back in the Netherlands for 2023-24, having completed a transfer to PSV, and has already opened his account for the Eredivisie giants.
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WHAT THEY SAID
Asked on the podcast to name those that he tries to model his own game on, Pepi said: “I used to be a big Ronaldo fan, but I also used to watch a lot of Raul Jimenez – he was one of my idols growing up. Now I watch players like Alvaro Morata, who I feel is similar to my playing style a little bit. Of course you want to watch players like Erling Haaland, who is always scoring. I like to watch a lot of players.”
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pressed further on why he looks up to Spain international Morata, who is currently back at Atletico Madrid and proving to be a useful source of goals for them, Pepi added: “Just the way we move on the pitch. We aren’t the fastest player or the strongest player, but we somehow manage to find space in the box and score goals. I feel like I compare myself pretty well to him. When it comes to scoring goals, I feel like he is a very effective player.”
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Pepi has found a way of being effective himself, with 16 caps and seven goals for the USMNT to his name, and hopes to use PSV as a stepping stone en route to the very top of the game in Europe. He said of his plans for the present and future: “I feel like being at a club like PSV, I signed a five-year deal so it’s about patience and working every day trying to get better as a player. I feel like I’m at a club, PSV, that are known for making big transfers of players, of having players go to the big clubs. I feel like I’m in the right spot and I’m going to keep working until I get my opportunity.”
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