He may not be one of the biggest names in world football, but should Liverpool supporters be excited by the prospect of Luis Alberto pulling on a red shirt next season? After all, the 20-year-old has limited experience at the very top level.
Having sealed his move from Sevilla earlier today, the attacker has made just seven appearances for Los Rojiblancos, scoring no goals.
However, he spent the entire last campaign on loan at Barcelona's famous La Masia complex. Granted, he only turned out for the Catalan outfit's 'B' side, but he was widely regarded as one of the best players in the Segunda Division. Furthermore, not many footballers spend time in the company of Barca's coaching staff and fail to benefit.
From his 33 appearances, he scored 11 times and made 17 assists for his teammates. His link-up play with the highly-rated Gerard Deulofeu in particular was something that saw the pair earn a number of plaudits.
He will also bring versatility to Anfield, which with the recent signings of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, as well as the impending arrival of Iago Aspas, appears to be something that appeals greatly to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Alberto played left, right and central for Barca B and even at times took up the 'false 9' role - a position that has been spearheaded by a certain Lionel Messi of late.
As Barca's official website stated: "Luis Alberto has a goalscoring instinct and reads the game to perfection, making him a very effective provider of assists. Alberto can also play in any of the more advanced positions, especially as a 'false centre forward'."
The reported £6.5m fee could be regarded as excessive for a player who is untested and untried at the highest echelons of the game, but if the youngster is able to fulfill his undoubted potential, Liverpool's financial outlay may end up looking like a bargain.
Liam Apicella
