- 20 hours ago
Who is Piero Hincapie? The 22-year-old Bundesliga defender linked with a Premier League switch
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 16 Jun 2024 14:59 BST
- 6 min read
Amid the constant transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Bayer Leverkusen, Piero Hincapie continues to thrive in Germany, quietly cementing his role as one of Xabi Alonso’s key players.
Last season, Bayer Leverkusen had an exceptional campaign, losing only one match and making a remarkable run to the Europa League final, where they narrowly fell to Atalanta.
Once goaded for never winning a Bundesliga title, Bayer silenced their detractors by claiming the championship in emphatic fashion. Hincapié was integral to this success, amassing 2,617 minutes over the course of the season.
So, who exactly is this talented Ecuadorian?
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What club does Piero Hincapie play for?
Hincapie plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.
What position does Piero Hincapie play in?
Hincapie is comfortable across the back-three. He featured mostly on the left side of defence for Bayer last season buty switches between centre-back and left-back for Die Werkself.
How good is Piero Hincapie?
Hincapie began playing football at the age of seven, with local clubs Escuela Refineria, Emelec, and Barcelona. At ten he left home to pursue his dream of one day playing football professionally.
Hincapie moved to Guayaquil to join Norte America. After a stint with Deportivo Azogues, he joined Independiente del Valle in November 2016. At this club, he won the 2020 Under-20s Copa Libertadores.
The defender then switched to Bayer at the age of 19, following an impressive showing for Ecuador at the 2021 Copa America, having already accumulated 33 appearances for Argentinian club Talleres. He signed a five-year deal with the German champions and debuted in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League group stage, where he also scored his first goal for the club.
In his debut Bundesliga season, Hincapie made 27 appearances. He also represented Ecuador in the 2022 World Cup, playing every minute of their three group stage matches. Before his move to Leverkusen, Hincapie had already won the 2020 U20 Copa Libertadores with his boyhood club Independiente del Valle.
in February of last year, he extended his contract with Bayer by an additional year, securing his stay until the summer of 2027.
Stylistically, Hincapie claims his brother has compared him to Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, but he says that he models himself on Spain legends Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos.
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"On Fridays, when we travelled by bus for seven or eight hours to play for Independiente del Valle, I watched a lot of videos of Puyol and Sergio Ramos," Hincapie said to Scouted Football.
"I watched the videos so I wouldn't get bored on the bus, and that's when I realised that I really liked Puyol. He had a special way of playing, perhaps less technical than Ramos, but he was a leader and captain. One of the best centre-backs I've ever seen."
How old is Piero Hincapie?
Hincapie is 22 years old. He was born on 9 January 2002.
