Matias Fernandez-Pardo possesses a rare attribute that has convinced Newcastle United that he can flourish in England’s top flight: pure explosiveness. As his former Gent coach Arnar Vidarsson told Sky Sports, “He is very explosive, very fast.
He has this unbelievable power.” That combination of speed and power is exactly what made Belgian winger Jeremy Doku a Premier League sensation, and Vidarsson believes Fernandez-Pardo shares a similar DNA. The Icelandic trainer, who oversaw Fernandez-Pardo’s development at Gent before the player’s transfer to Lille, draws a direct line between the two.
“You could compare him a little bit to Jeremy Doku. They have a similar profile,” he explained.
Both players can accelerate from a standstill, burst past a defender in a metre or two, and then continue their run without needing a lot of space. That trademark “slow‑down‑then‑burst” move, which Doku uses to freeze a defender before exploding forward, is evident in Fernandez‑Pardo’s game as well. Vidarsson noted, “Matias can go past people in one or two metres because of this explosiveness.” Newcastle’s willingness to part with £51 million for the 21‑year‑old Belgian international stems not only from his athletic gifts but also from his growing goal‑scoring record.
Over the past season he has morphed from a traditional wide player into a more central attacking threat. Vidarsson believes his optimal position is actually in the middle of the pitch: “That is how he scored most of his goals and how Lille scouted him in his last season with Gent.” The statistics back this up – an eight‑goal haul in just eleven league appearances propelled him into the spotlight and prompted Lille to deploy him as a striker rather than a winger. The rapid rise was facilitated by a series of opportunities at Gent.
In early 2024 the club sold three key attackers – Malick Fofana and Gift Orban to Lyon and Hugo Cuypers to Chicago Fire – leaving a void that the young Spaniard‑born‑Belgian could fill. Vidarsson recalls, “That freed up the space for Matias to play.” Within months he made his senior debut in March, and by August he had already transferred to Lille, where he helped the French side qualify for the Champions League. Vidarsson’s relationship with Fernandez‑Pardo predates that breakthrough. The coach, now a FIFA development specialist, was responsible for talent management at Gent and worked closely with the club’s reserve squad.
He remembers a quiet, family‑oriented teenager whose father acted as his personal assistant, driving him to training and matches. “Matias did not talk too much,” Vidarsson says, “but he came alive on the pitch.” Early in his career, however, the winger’s decision‑making on the flank was erratic.
Vidarsson admits, “His decision‑making on the wing was not always the best… He was going past people and not knowing when to cross, when to cut inside, when to go outside, when to find space behind.” He likens this to the growing pains Doku experienced at Anderlecht. The young Belgian sometimes lacked the mental discipline to track back for the team, a shortcoming Vidarsson attributes to his being “outgrown” by the second‑team level and eager for first‑team minutes. The move to Lille proved decisive. After a period of adaptation, Fernandez‑Pardo became a regular starter, contributing crucial goals and assists.
His performances earned him a call‑up to the Belgian senior squad, although his World Cup involvement was limited to three cameo appearances off the bench. Frustrated by the lack of playing time on the international stage, he reportedly pushed for a move that would guarantee regular top‑level football – a chance he found at Newcastle. While the transfer has generated excitement, Vidarsson urges patience. “I would say they are taking, not a risk, but let’s say giving him an opportunity,” he says diplomatically.
The Premier League’s pace and intensity are higher than anything he has previously encountered, and a period of adjustment is inevitable. “He has the potential but I really do believe that he will need one season to adapt before he can shine and become a top player in the Premier League. Because everything in the Premier League is faster, more intense.
Everything there happens at a faster tempo.” Newcastle’s manager, Matthias Jaissle, favors a vertical, high‑pressing system that could suit Fernandez‑Pardo’s strengths, especially if he is deployed as one of two central forwards rather than a conventional winger. Vidarsson argues, “Because of his speed, he needs space.
On the wing, you can direct him in one direction and then he becomes a little easier to mark.” A central role would allow him to exploit half‑spaces, make diagonal runs behind the defence, and combine with a strike partner, maximizing his burst speed. Fans have reason to be optimistic, not because Fernandez‑Pardo is a finished product, but because he is still a work in progress with a unique weapon in his arsenal: raw pace. “What he has, of course, is that special thing that a lot of clubs are looking for in modern football, that speed, that ability to go past people and do something in small spaces.
He has those attributes and they are really difficult to create. You are just born with it,” Vidarsson concludes. If he can translate his explosive bursts into consistent goal contributions and adapt to the physical demands of English football, Matias Fernandez‑Pardo could become a thrilling addition to Newcastle’s attack and perhaps one of the league’s next breakout stars.