According to The Athletic, Liverpool appear to have gained an edge in the race for Samuel Martinez. The 17-year-old Colombian number 10, currently in Atlético Nacional's youth academy, has impressed at the South American Under-17 Championship and drawn comparisons to Brazilian legend Kaká for his lean frame, upright running style, and explosive acceleration.

When a young player catches the attention of a major European club, highlight reels inevitably flood social media, set to electronic or hip-hop tracks. After accumulating thousands of likes, comparisons to current stars or retired legends follow. Such is the case with 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Samuel Martinez. He impressed with Colombia at the South American Under-17 Championship in April, and clips of his performances quickly went viral. His lean physique, upright running style, and deceptive acceleration over short distances evoke Brazilian legend Kaká.

These qualities give Martinez a distinctive profile, particularly as a South American number 10. Colombia has a rich tradition of producing skilled central midfielders. The traditional South American number 10 is an orchestrating playmaker—a role exemplified by legendary 1990s Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama, still regarded as the archetype.

This tradition remains influential in Colombia. Former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton midfielder James Rodríguez, and his Colombian national team colleague Juan Quintero of River Plate, represent more contemporary iterations of this role. At Atlético Nacional, Martinez is developing within the club's elite youth system, which deliberately cultivates number 10s capable of adapting to modern football's tactical demands.

Though Martinez has yet to debut for Atlético Nacional's first team, he follows in the footsteps of fellow academy prospect Juan Rengifo, a 21-year-old playmaker. Both exemplify the evolution of the South American number 10: the position now demands tactical flexibility for European football, not merely ball control and playmaking.

Martinez possesses raw potential, but without regular exposure to Atlético Nacional's youth matches, he might have remained relatively unknown in Colombia. However, in April, scouts from several European clubs traveled to Paraguay to watch the U-17 Championship live. Colombia entered as underdogs against traditional powerhouses Argentina and Brazil, yet quickly made an impact with direct, fast-paced football centered on Martinez. Of course, youth international football must be viewed with appropriate context.

Still, Martinez stood out among his peers. He demonstrated strong physical and technical abilities, particularly his mature control of ball speed and power across short, medium, and long passes. In the opponent's half, he takes calculated risks, preferring to drive forward rather than play sideways. Though facing players his own age, his game awareness and understanding impressed multiple European scouts. Following consistent performances, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich all expressed interest. According to Martinez's agent Daniel Neumueller, Bayern appeared to be leading the race at one point.

After Colombia defeated Argentina 4-0 in the Paraguay final, Neumueller spoke to Colombian journalist AS about Martinez's next steps.

Neumueller stated: "For him, the most important thing is joining a club with a genuine development plan for young players, like Bayern." He added that Bayern had been proactive in pursuing Martinez, with genuine interest and a clear pathway to European football emerging.

Martinez's team has signaled they want to proceed gradually with the transfer process. Martinez is eager to play in Europe, and the interest from top clubs must feel like a dream realized.

Neumueller said: "Several clubs are interested, especially Premier League teams. It's not necessarily about joining a big club—the key is finding one that provides Samuel the right development environment. Our goal is for him to play, adapt, and continue growing."

Bayern fans began following Martinez's technical videos on social media, while Colombian and South American media hailed him as the next gem. Now, however, Liverpool appear to have won the race. Martinez will remain at Atlético Nacional until turning 18, after which he'll join Liverpool's academy at Kirkby.

The news has thrust Martinez back into the spotlight. Just a month ago, he was an unknown youth player who suddenly rose to prominence. The soft-spoken teenager once described himself as "the humble boy next door." In an ESPN Colombia interview, he named Messi and Liverpool's Luis Díaz as his idols.

On his playing style, Martinez said: "Honestly, I love driving the ball forward quickly, constantly pushing ahead, and taking on defenders one-on-one. I can control the ball and I'm willing to defend because you can't just think about attacking anymore—defense is equally important. What I enjoy most is having the ball, facing defenders, breaking through, and dribbling."

Today, the spotlight shines brighter than ever on Martinez, and his dreams are gradually becoming reality. His family advises him not to be swayed by external hype and international praise, as the next step offers no guarantees. The Athletic suggests Liverpool's investment could shape Martinez's career trajectory, but at 17, the wisest approach is taking it one step at a time.

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