Luis Paradela
Calimete, Cuba January 21, 1997 Currently playing for CS U Craiova(Liga I - Romania)Left winger
Secondary position(s)Right winger
Striker
Luis Paradela was first spotted by us during the 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying campaign where he earned a spot in the tournament best 11 and was among the top scorers with 5 goals in 4 matches. After playing for FC Matanzas in Cuba, in January 2019, he joined USAC in Guatemala Primera Division de Ascenso.
After being scouted by Bruno Costa, Brazilian head scout of San Jose Earthquakes, during the 2019 Gold Cup, he moved on loan to the USL Championship affiliate, Reno 1868, for the last two months of the 2019 season, becoming the first ever Cuban athlete to receive a professional VISA and play in the USA without defecting. Due to the short validity of such VISA because of US government restrictions, he had to return to Central America at season end to join Jocoro in the Liga Mayor of El Salvador before the Covid-19 pandemic halted the league. He eventually moved to AD Chalatenango and then joined AD Santos in Costa Rica where he was instrumental in their Clausura 2021 and Apertura 2022 top four place finish. He was sold to Deportivo Saprissa along with Javon East in the summer of 2022, earning a title in his first campaign with the club. He went on to win 4 national championships in 4 tournaments played with Saprissa. In June 2024, he moved on a one-year loan to CS U Craiova in Romania.
Paradela is a talented, fast, skillful, and hardworking player, with good technique, a short stature, and a strong build. He usually plays as a left winger, a position which enables him to beat opponents with the ball, cut into the center, and shoot on goal from outside the area with his stronger right foot, although he is also an accurate striker of the ball with his left foot; he is also capable of creating chances for teammates as well as scoring goals himself.
He is also known for his defensive contribution off the ball, and has been deployed anywhere along the front line, as well as in several midfield positions, most frequently as attacking midfielder although he has also been used as a main or second striker on occasion.