Rio Ferdinand raved about reported Liverpool target and Argentina international midfielder Enzo Fernandez on BBC One (10:05pm, December 9, 2022) after watching him in action against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Friday evening.
The former Manchester United defender was impressed by the willingness of Fernandez, linked with a move to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, to take a penalty during the shootout.
Argentina got the better of the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties after the quarter-final tie ended 2-2 after extra time.
Fernandez, 21, took one of the spot kicks, but the Benfica central midfielder could not score.
It did not matter in the end, though.
Ferdinand was impressed by the youngster’s willingness to step up for a penalty under such tough circumstances.
And we think that the Liverpool fans watching the match would have been too.
Sport reported in October that Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona are interested in the youngster.
90min claimed in November that Manchester United are keeping tabs on the Fernandez and have scouted him this season.
The 21-year-old has a release clause of €120 million (£103 million) in his contract at Benfica, according to GiveMeSport.
Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool target and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez
Ferdinand said about Fernandez: “He steps up. You have got to put your hand up, you probably get asked before the penalties get announced at the end of the game. You have got to put your hand up. He is a young kid.”
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