Football
Tim Vickery, South America correspondent 5y

Whose stock soared at the Copa America as transfer market kicks into high gear?

The club game never entirely goes away, even in the middle of an international tournament. Not even the Copa America. For some of those caught up in the bubble, nothing matters beyond the final. The players, though, cannot afford to think like that. They make their living from club football, and a tournament is an opportunity to show their worth to a worldwide audience.

These are a few who can look back on a successful Brazil 2019 before looking forward to moving on to bigger and better clubs.

Dani Alves | Brazil | 36 | Free agent

The man chosen as the outstanding player of the 2019 Copa is without a club. Dani Alves is leaving Paris Saint-Germain, and his Copa displays serve as a powerful advert for his considerable abilities.

It was hard to watch him in action these past few weeks without two questions coming to the fore: One, might Brazil's World Cup campaign last year have turned out differently had he not been injured, and two, how will they replace him?

He has not, and has never been, one the great defensive right-backs. It was significant that at the end of the final, with Brazil under pressure, he was switched to midfield. But even at the age of 36, his constructive qualities are undiminished. He can build the play from deep, pass over range, send in excellent crosses and cut into the attacking line as an element of surprise. He has won almost everything and wants to keep winning. He brings experience, leadership and talent -- qualities that even at his advanced age make him worthy of a big club.

Everton | Brazil | 23 | Gremio

The breakout star and joint top goal scorer of the 2019 Copa America made his international debut last September, and going into the Copa, he had made only a handful of appearances as a substitute. Brazil have so many wide attackers that if Neymar had been fit, Everton might well have struggled to get a look in.

Indeed, he began the competition as backup for David Neres and ended it as a hero. In game after game, Brazil were overwhelming favourites who were struggling to break down deep defences. Their most potent weapon -- the one most able to come up with a moment of magic -- was Everton, the so-called "little onion."

He made opposing full-backs cry with his two-footed ability. His three goals -- all wonderful finishes -- came as a result of cutting onto his stronger right foot. But he could also take the outside route, using his pace to get behind the defender and pull back across the face of goal with his left. He consistently put doubt in the mind of defenders, and now there is little doubt that he will soon be on the move.

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The only one of Brazil's starting lineup to be based domestically, Everton is surely bound for Europe. Gremio will seek to cash in on the 23-year-old, and the only question is whether he moves this summer or stays for the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores and moves in January.

Wilmar Barrios | Colombia | 25 | Zenit Saint Petersburg

The Copa would have benefited from a meeting between Brazil and Colombia, a team that  could have given the hosts a fright with their capacity to break at pace combined with their defensive frugality. Colombia were knocked out of the competition without conceding a goal, and much of the credit for that should surely go to their holding midfielder, Wilmar Barrios.

Like a junior version of Argentine legend Javier Mascherano, Barrios is quick around the field, tough in the tackle and crisp in possession. Colombia coach Carlos Queiroz has quickly identified him as the man to balance out his team, and at club level, he would seem capable of performing the same task for an even bigger outfit than Zenit in Russia.

Erick Pulgar | Chile | 25 | Bologna

One of the very few changes made in Chile's aging side was the introduction of 25-year-old holding midfielder Erick Pulgar, and though the team were unable to retain their title, Pulgar was a success. His height and aerial power were a welcome addition to the side, he tightened up the space in front of the centre-backs, and his passing -- especially over range -- also caught the eye, leading to the conclusion that he could be capable of moving on to somewhere bigger than Bologna.

Federico Valverde | Uruguay | 20 | Real Madrid

Two years ago, Federico Valverde was the first of Uruguay's new generation of midfielders to win promotion to the senior ranks, and he played an important role in the home straight of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Injury forced him out of Russia 2018, but this tournament was the moment that he forced his way back in. Mobile, classy and combative, he looks like the complete midfield package and could well have an important role to play as Real Madrid seek to rebuild. But if he is forced out of contention by a collection of big-money signings, the Copa has reminded rival clubs that this player -- who does not turn 21 until later this month -- has a massive future.

Juan Foyth | Argentina | 21 | Tottenham

When he joined Tottenham two years ago, Juan Foyth was a teenage defender with fewer than 10 first-team matches behind him. He might still be finding his feet in the Premier League, but he already looks like an important part of his national team.

Argentina have suffered from a dearth of top-quality defenders in recent times, and there are great hopes that Foyth could be the long-term solution. He was thrown in at the deep end during the Copa: After coming into the side for the third game at centre-back, he was then moved to the problem right-back position, where he had to take on a succession of tricky wingers. He came through the test well, occasionally beaten for pace but getting himself out of trouble with swift recovery and good timing in the tackle. At the age of 21, Foyth used the Copa to remind his present -- and maybe future -- employers that he is a defender of some potential.

Santiago Arzamendia | Paraguay | 21 | Cerro Porteno

A stocky little left-back who was born in Argentina, Santiago Arzamendia opted to represent the land of his parents -- and the Copa showed why Paraguay should be delighted with his choice.

The 21-year-old can mark tight and brings interesting attacking options with his scuttling forward runs and his ability to send in crosses and hit positive forward passes. Paraguay can hope for great things from a left-sided combination of Arzamendia and Miguel Almiron, and Cerro Porteno can expect to cash in on the sale of a player who will surely not stay long in domestic Paraguayan football.

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