Former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio has tipped Strasbourg midfielder Kendry Paez to surpass the duo of Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The 18-year-old is officially a Chelsea player, joining the club this summer two years after being originally signed.
Paez was not able to move from his boyhood side Independiente del Valle to the UK until he came of age, but even now, he will not actually suit up for the Blues.
Instead, Paez has been sent on loan to BlueCo sister club Strasbourg to help him come to grips with European football in a less demanding division than the Premier League.
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In a chat with L’Equipe, Tenorio voiced his strong belief that Paez has what it takes to surpass Messi and Neymar.
“He has everything to be better than Leo Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and his entourage,” Tenorio told L’Equipe.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a player with these features. I think he has everything to become one of the most important players in world football.”
Páez made his senior international debut for Ecuador at just 16 years old in 2023, becoming the youngest player in the nation’s history.
