The 21-year-old, currently on loan at Girona, has consistently been seen as a promising talent, and truth be told, he has proven himself in Spain.
Yet, the lingering question has always been whether Couto could ultimately excel at the Etihad Stadium.
Pedro Porro, another skilled right-back signed by Girona in 2017 before his transfer to City in 2019, found himself loaned out to Real Valladolid and Sporting CP before being sold to the latter in 2022.
Despite Porro’s evident talent, showcased in Portugal and later for Tottenham Hotspur, he fell short of meeting the standards for the Sky Blues.
Yan Couto expresses a “dream” to play under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, the Brazilian’s situation may differ from that of the Spurs defender, as a report in late January suggested he is seen as the long-term successor to Kyle Walker at City.
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Ivan Toney says £54m Man City star has the best football intelligence in the Premier League
Ivan Toney is convinced that a player from Manchester City possesses the highest football intelligence in the Premier League.
Manchester City has kicked off 2024 with remarkable form, only being halted by Liverpool and Chelsea in the new year. Under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, the team remains undefeated in 22 games, raising the possibility of securing back-to-back treble wins.
However, City faces challenging opponents ahead, such as Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals and Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.
Despite their impressive streak, City trails behind Arsenal and Liverpool by a single point in the title race, leaving the outcome of their trophy haul uncertain for the season.
To achieve success, City relies on every player reaching their peak performance, including Kevin De Bruyne, who Ivan Toney regards as the Premier League’s most astute player.
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Wayne Rooney says Louis van Gaal wanted him to play like £51m Man City player when he was at Manchester United
Wayne Rooney has disclosed that during Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United, the Dutch manager encouraged him to play in a manner reminiscent of Erling Haaland, even though Haaland was not yet a professional footballer at that time. Van Gaal’s strategic vision for Rooney involved greater involvement in build-up play, a concept Rooney discussed on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast.
Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, Rooney expressed his desire to always be actively engaged in the game, even if it meant sacrificing more goal-scoring opportunities. Van Gaal, upon his arrival at Manchester United, emphasized a tactical shift for Rooney, wanting the center-forward to have 15 or 20 touches per game, similar to how Erling Haaland operates.
During Manchester City’s recent 1-0 victory against Brentford, Haaland had just 32 touches of the ball, as reported by Sofascore. Despite limited involvement, Haaland’s decisive touch resulted in the winning goal, highlighting the striker’s impact on the game.
In the podcast discussion, Jamie Carragher drew parallels between Van Gaal’s vision and Haaland’s playing style, to which Rooney concurred, noting that Haaland indeed operates with fewer touches, creating unpredictability for defenders. Rooney acknowledged the potential psychological impact on defenders, who may feel a false sense of security or heightened anxiety, knowing that Haaland could score at any moment.
Van Gaal’s strategic insight, urging Rooney to emulate Haaland’s playing style, aligns with the idea that a striker with minimal touches can significantly influence defenders’ mindset. The unpredictability and goal-scoring threat associated with players like Haaland create challenges for opposing defenses and open up opportunities for teammates to exploit.
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‘Always’… Pundit says Man City have a player who can just singlehandedly win them games out of nothing
Paul Dickov has asserted that Erling Haaland possesses the capability to singlehandedly secure victories for Manchester City, evident in his decisive contribution against Brentford where he broke the deadlock. Despite City not being at their dominant best, Haaland’s goal proved instrumental in securing the crucial three points.
Dickov praised Haaland’s ability to impact games even when the team is not performing at its peak, emphasizing the confidence it instills in City to have a striker of Haaland’s caliber. The sentiment echoes Vitaliy Mykolenko’s belief that Haaland is currently the best player in the Premier League.
While critics may attribute Haaland’s success to moments of fortune, Dickov emphasized that match-winners possess a unique ability to find ways to secure victories, as seen in Haaland’s performance against Brentford. The striker’s consistent ability to rescue teams he has played for throughout his career is highlighted, with examples including his acrobatic finish against Borussia Dortmund and an incredible overhead kick in a 4-0 win against Southampton.
Haaland’s knack for scoring crucial goals, including last-gasp winners, sets him apart as a player capable of influencing the outcome of games. Dickov drew parallels between Haaland and football greats like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as well as current world-class performers like Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe. Contrary to attributing Haaland’s success to luck, Dickov views his impact as a defining quality associated with football’s elite players.
