Federico Redondo: bearing the weight of history

The definitive SCOUTED50 profile.

SCOUTED50 is our collection of the fifty young talents we believe are best positioned to break into the mainstream during 2023/24. Throughout the season, we’ll be detailing all fifty in definitive profiles.

The full list can be read here. Federico Redondo is the next one up.

This profile was produced as part of a commercial collaboration with SkillCorner, SCOUTED’s official data partner. SkillCorner’s tracking and performance data is used by more than 150 of the world’s biggest clubs, leagues and confederations. Learn more.

All stats correct as of 13/03/2024 unless otherwise noted.

Football in Argentina draws the uninitiated to two places: Boca Juniors and River Plate. Independiente or Rosario Central may be mentioned at a stretch, and those following the career of Lionel Messi will know about Newell's Old Boys.

But there is another club that deserve your attention - Argentinos Juniors - who have quietly produced the likes of Diego Maradona, Juan Román Riquelme and Fernando Redondo. They’re colloquially known as “El Semillero” which roughly translates to nursery.

One name in particular stands out from that list and no, it’s not the one you think. Or the other one. Fernando Redondo was a tremendously gifted, decorated player with several major honours to his name. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree but in this case, the phrase couldn’t be more accurate.

Fernando’s son, Federico Redondo, was born in Madrid (despite his father playing for Milan at the time) before returning to Argentina and progressing through the academy at Argentinos Juniors.

Like his father, Federico is an elegant defensive midfielder with great technique and awareness. He made his senior breakthrough in 2022 under former Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito and quickly became a mainstay for El Bicho despite his relative inexperience at that level.

Playing both as the deepest midfielder or within a two-way pivot, Redondo is a constant source of availability for teammates, often finding pockets of space for quick one-twos or holding his position within chaos to provide solutions for those under pressure. He is not blessed with elite speed and looks awkward with his straight, long-legged gait, but his quickness of thought means he always impact matches.

It’s hard to imagine a better footballing education for a holding midfielder than being raised by Fernando Redondo, but Federico might have found it: by making an €8 million move to Inter Miami, the 21-year-old has become apprentice to Sergio Busquets. Already lathered in expectation, the young Redondo can now bask in another generational midfielder’s twilight glow.