Gus Poyet explains why he is very much impressed with Tottenham Hotspur star Rodrigo Bentancur
Gus Poyet has weighed in with his thoughts about how he has been very much impressed with Tottenham Hotspur star Rodrigo Bentancur so far. Poyet, who played for Spurs between 2001 and 2004 and helped us win the 2008 English League Cup as an assistant, has been left speechless by the central midfielder.
Bentancur joined Tottenham permanently after leaving Juventus in the January transfer window. He could cost up to £21.5million in transfer fees if certain add-ons are met in the future. However, the deal appears to be a steal, considering how he has performed for us over the past few weeks.
Speaking to the club’s media (h/t Tottenham Hotspur official website), Poyet, who is currently the manager of the Greece national team, lauds Bentancur’s ability to read the game well and combine it with his technical qualities for greater benefit. The former Spurs star added that he also appreciates the ex-Juve ace’s tendency to push forward rather than play safe.
“He [Bentancur] has the commitment, the technical ability, he understands the game. I’m so impressed with him, especially how he drives with the ball. He’s confident, he will get the ball and run metres with it. That’s something that we’ve lost in football because everyone wants to play two touches, positional, control and pass. He gets the ball, and he will drive with the ball.”
Great transfer business!
The way the 24-year-old was signed very late in the winter transfer window would have raised eyebrows for sure. After all, we did not sign any players before that point and bringing in Bentancur on deadline day would naturally cause people to think that the move was reactionary from the club’s side.
However, the Premier League midfielder’s recent displays have showcased why the North London side targeted him to back Antonio Conte. While the former Serie A star did take a bit of time to get going, one cannot fault him for that, as it takes time to get accustomed to the new surroundings.
Despite that, Bentancur did adapt quickly compared to normal cases and has established a strong partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the base of the midfield. Before the former’s winter arrival, we often struggled to create chances due to a lack of progression from the midfield at times.
Bentancur has changed that with his attacking attributes as he often tries to progress the ball whenever possible. That, coupled with Hojbjerg’s natural tendency to hold position, provides a balance to the midfield, which has contributed to our recent upturn in form.
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The current campaign is still at large but we hope that Bentancur can continue performing at this level moving forward. That would put us in the best possible position to continue with our challenge of achieving Champions League qualification.
That, in turn, would make the Uruguay international one of the best transfer dealings we have made in recent years. Let’s hope that he continues his upward trajectory and emerges as a key player for us in the years to come.
