Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey is currently Atlético Madrid talisman this season, according to Alfredo Santaelena, one of Partey's coaches in the Los Rojiblancos academy.
The 26-year-old has been one of the standout players for Diego Simeone's side this season and recently scored against Lokomotiv Moscow in the UEFA Champions League last week.
"You could see how good he would become ever since he arrived at the academy," Santaelena told MARCA.
"Right now, he's the boss of the team, the Gabi [Fernandez] that played in front of the back four for all those years.
"Cholo went for him quickly because when you see a boy with this quality, who is a wonder physically and who improves tactically and grows, well he was always going to end up among the elite."
Santaelena revealed that he noticed the Ghanaian's qualities even at a young age and, after loan spells at Real Mallorca and Almeria, the midfielder is proving his worth in the Atlético team.
"Thomas was very intelligent, he learned quickly, and he was one of the most important players in the academy at the time," Santaelena noted.
"He had very good technical and physical qualities. He improved a lot on the tactical side [of the game] because that was where he needed to improve the most. But he was impressive.
"And you could also see the mind that he had: with his feet on the ground and things very clearly set out. He had everything [he needed] in order to reach the elite.
"Right now, he's the talisman in the [Atlético] team. He's improved so much. Physically he's a wonder, he fills space very well, he's much more organised tactically, he's always well-positioned and he's good on the ball...
"He does a great job and makes Atlético tick. With Koke and Saul [Niguez] alongside him in the centre of midfield, he has lots of support."