Nahuel da Silva: from strabismus to City Group’s “new Haaland”

Nahuel da Silva is being hailed as City Group’s “new Haaland” after suffering from strabismus. The Montevideo City Torque forward has scored 20 goals in 42 matches so far this year, with 28 of those goals coming after he entered as a substitute. His rate works out to a goal every 84 minutes.

Born in Montevideo in 2005, Da Silva says he went through a difficult spell before establishing himself in professional football. “At 18, I started suffering from strabismus in my right eye. I had severe headaches when I went to training and felt as though I was seeing double,” he recalls. He says he played that way for a year, seeing two balls, before he was able to have surgery. He was told, he says, that playing in the top division with the problem would be very difficult, and he remained in the fourth division. The operation later went well.

The forward says his scoring instinct survived that period: “I finished as the youth top scorer. I scored 15 goals in 12 matches. Fortunately, I was able to have the operation, and things went even better after that.” He also says he had always dreamed of joining a first-division squad and competing for a place.

Da Silva credits the club with helping him through a difficult start: “The club always supported me so I wouldn’t give up. Even when I wasn’t performing at the level I knew I could reach, they trusted me.” He says sporting director Andreu Freixes had watched him for a year before the club signed him.

Da Silva joined Montevideo City Torque from Progreso in 2024 without having made a first-division debut. Kansas City has now included him on its Discovery List. His ambition, however, is directed towards Europe. “My dream is to get there and test myself. I’ve always wanted that,” he says. He also hopes to receive a call from Diego Forlán one day and has his sights on the national team.

On the pitch, he also stresses the work he does without the ball: “I like to work hard and help the team. I’ve always liked pressing in attack and helping the team win the ball back.”