A Senegal side shorn of Sadio Mane was almost reminiscent of a Red Hot Chili Peppers album during John Frusciante’s absence in the 2010s. The rest of the group were still capable of making some rather pleasing music in his absence, of course, but lacking that face-melting star power only the very best in the business can bring.
Ismaila Sarr, it must be said, still did a passable impression of his Ballon D’Or-challenging, Champions League-winning, Bayern Munich line-leading compatriot during Senegal’s Group B opener against the Netherlands on Monday afternoon.
While Aliou Cisse’s side jabbed at the Netherlands body without ever landing the knockout blow, Sarr looked the most likely to connect with Louis van Gaal’s glass jaw. The Watford winger travelled to Qatar on the back of six goals and three assists in the Championship this season.
And, if he felt any pressure to step into Mane’s sizeable shadow, he certainly didn’t show it. Especially during a first-half in which Sarr was arguably the most potent attacking weapon on either side.
Ismaila Sarr shines but Senegal lose to Netherlands in Qatar World Cup
Plucking a ball out of the Qatari sky like Dennis Bergkamp in his pomp; Sarr curled a wicked shot towards Andries Noppert’s top corner. One Virgil van Dijk was forced to repel away in dramatic fashion. And, on the verge of half-time, Sarr out-jumped Matthijs de Ligt before collecting his own flick-on. He then sped away from Van Dijk and fizzed a cross into the six yard box.
If it wasn’t for Nathan Ake’s expert positioning, Senegal might have gone into the break 1-0 up.
Aston Villa agreed a £25 million deal to sign Sarr in the summer, per Fabrizio Romano. Only for the deal to fall through due after both parties failed to agree on personal terms. It remains to be seen whether Villa plan to renew their interest in the New Year.
But, as Sarr zipped past both Van Dijk and de Ligt (two centre-halves who set their clubs back a combined £133 million), the 24-year-old looked like a man desperate to remind us all that his stay in England’s second tier should be temporary at best.
“I am not a right-back, but today I had to play as a right back,” Bayern’s former Juventus and Ajax stopper De Ligt gasped at full-time, having been given the run-around by Watford’s former Rennes speedster. “This was different for me. Especially against a winger (Sarr).”
Sarr gives Matthijs de Ligt the runaround
Unai Emery, still settling into life in the Aston Villa hotseat, has already been tipped to bring Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson or Yeremy Pino with him to the Midlands. The former Arsenal and PSG boss boasts an excellent track record when it comes to getting the best out of speedy forwards; both Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins looking revitalised since his appointment.
Ismaila Sarr, then, is very much an Emery sort of player. And, with promotion on the line and with the January window coming up, Watford fans would be forgiven for feeling like the parents in Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles, watching on with very mixed emotions as their superspeed son takes part in his school sport’s day. By all means, do well.
Just not so well that anyone starts to notice.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
