PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Real Madrid academy graduate Óscar Aranda making waves at Famalicão | OneFootball

If I asked you for the best dribbler in Liga Portugal, your mind might immediately think of senior attacking staples like Francisco Trincão, Bruma and Ángel Di María or Portuguese wonderkids Rodrigo Mora and Geovany Quenda, or even the inevitable Viktor Gyökeres – but you would be very wrong.

Óscar Aranda stands alone as the player with the most dribbles completed and fouls suffered – the undisputed 1v1 king in Portugal, making the difference for the Azuis e Brancos in an uncharacteristically stable season. Óscar Aranda is the latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week, and it was long overdue. Kevin Fernandes reports.

Famalicão currently sit seventh with six fixtures remaining, leaving them in great stead to match or surpass their best league finish (6th).

The Spanish youth international was decisive once more this past weekend, with this audacious Panenka penalty against Arouca giving his side another three points towards that objective.

From La Fábrica to Vila Nova de Famalicão

There is a reason why they call it La Fabrica (The Factory), a term coined by the legendary ex-Real Madrid player and manager Alfredo di Stefano.

Óscar Aranda Subiela reached the pinnacle of Spanish football after stints at historic staples such as Málaga and Granada in his early youth career.

His trajectory was relatively successful and stable. He was a highly rated prospect rising through the youth hierarchy, earning his way from ‘C’ to ‘B’ (Castilla) without ever featuring for Real Madrid’s first team. He showed his talent sporadically, summarised by his second-string, bit-part role in the 2019/20 UEFA Youth League conquest.

His best work came for Real Madrid Castilla, scoring 10 goals and 3 assists in 54 appearances. He has already matched those numbers in fewer appearances for Famalicão, demonstrating the leap in consistency and productivity amid his adaptation to senior, top-flight football in the neighbouring country.

The pick of the bunch? Arguably his debut for Famalicão, immediately demonstrating his irreverent and explosive nature, scoring the winner in the Minho Derby against Sporting Clube de Braga.

The Huétor Vega, Granada native has always been blessed with unbelievable technical quality. Portugal gets to see it more regularly than ever, which was always the question for Aranda to answer.

Full credit to the Famalicense structure who made Aranda feel at home from day one. “When I came here, to a professional team with a very good structure, I found a real family, a great club. They treated me well from the first minute,” Aranda told reporters following another impressive intervention against CD Nacional.

Pure, raw street football personified

As aforementioned, Óscar Aranda is an elite dribbler who can manipulate defenders with one swift body twitch and incredible close control.

What sets him apart from other irreverent attackers? His unshakeable audacious nature, and strong ball-striking, consistently firing assertive shots.

Glued to the touchline or operating in the half-spaces, the 22-year-old attacker attracts, isolates and beats defenders with ease, almost teasing and humiliating them due to his nature.

Free spirit

Capable of playing off the left, behind the number nine or as the lone forward, Óscar can be criticised for his insistence on individual inspiration but Aranda is the personality we accuse modern football of lacking, the exception to systematic imprisonment of unhinged creativity.

The special moments are the product of many moments of frustration. Aranda can disappoint when attempting to produce substance in the final third, but the emotion will always be guaranteed.

Famalicão and Portuguese football will always be better off with the presence of someone of Aranda’s raw talent. The PortuGOAL Figure of the Week is certainly one to watch in the near future, at a promising age and projected to produce brilliance for years to come.