Liverpool youngster Rafa Camacho departed the Reds for Sporting Lisbon earlier this week in a deal worth an initial £5 million – but could the Portuguese club have signed someone as good as Joao Felix for a bargain price?
Felix is believed to be heading to Atletico Madrid for around £112 million this summer from fellow Portuguese outfit Benfica, and one of Camacho’s former coaches has claimed he is as good as the talented prodigy.
Joao Machado told Desporto ao Minuto: “I think [Camacho] has the ability to reach the level Joao Felix currently has. In terms of characteristics they are similar players since they move very well, occupy the spaces very well.
“Rafael can get a little more unbalanced in one-v-ones but ends up not having the capacity to score as many goals. I believe he can get to one of the best clubs in Europe – he may become one of the best players in the world. He can do that.”
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Camacho is still highly rated by the Reds, but he wants more regular game time and was not happy being played at right-back, believing he is better further up the field than Jurgen Klopp wanted to see him.
With only a year left on his deal, the fee gathered for the 19-year-old is a decent one no matter how talented he is. There is also a 20% sell-on clause in the deal so if Camacho does indeed get to Felix’s level and a big-money move ensues, the Reds could make a significant amount of money on a transfer anyway.
Whether he will ever get to Felix’s level is questionable, but there is no doubt that Camacho will go on to have a very good career. He was a good player for the Academy sides, but ultimately didn’t quite have enough to make the grade.