Bentancur 'South American Pogba'

By Football Italia staff

Rodrigo Bentancur has made a huge impression on Juventus and his former Boca Juniors Coach trusts “in a year he’ll be compared to Paul Pogba.”

The Uruguayan only turned 20 in June, but while other new buys such as Federico Bernardeschi are struggling to get playing time, Bentancur already has four Serie A appearances and started both Champions League games.

“Here in Argentina, there were those who said Bentancur would remain at most for six months at Juventus and then return to Boca,” his former Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto told Tuttosport.

“Instead, he is putting in some great performances for the Bianconeri and Uruguay called him up to the senior national team. I am proud of him.”

Bentancur stepped in at the last minute for injured Miralem Pjanic in the 2-0 victory over Olympiakos on Wednesday and was one of their best performers on the night.

“I know the lad and spent a year and a half working with him: we are talking about a player with exceptional quality,” continued former Boca boss Schelotto.

“He is intelligent and has incredible character: trust me, the best is yet to come. I had called him the ‘South American Pogba’ and I confirm he is at that level.

“Let Rodrigo have a full season in Europe and you’ll see in a year he will be compared to Pogba.

“The thing about Rodrigo is that he moves like a 30-year-old. Recovering the ball is a natural gift he has, but he’s young and still has so many areas he can improve in.

“He’s a box-to-box midfielder and what he really needs to work on is his performance in the opposite penalty area: he ought to be scoring at least five goals per season.”

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