Manquillo returned to the Premier League by signing for Sunderland on a season-long loan deal.
Picture Supplied by Action Images – Javier Manquillo
Javi Manquillo arrives in the Premier League in rather different circumstances than when he first did two years ago.
The Spaniard featured for Liverpool back in 2014 and was one of many signings on the back of their improbable title push, but never really made his mark on Merseyside.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror at the time, when he was signed on loan from Atletico Madrid, he was regarded as the long-term successor to Juanfran. Manquillo didn’t really have that much match practice under his belt, though he did start the opening games of the season at Liverpool.
He would go on to make 19 appearances for the Reds in the 2014-15 season but didn’t play at all beyond January, having started the season at right-back and featured in the club’s disappointing Champions League campaign.
Positionally he seemed an intelligent footballer at Anfield, but couldn’t quite get up to the pace of English football, nor had he physically matured – and sometimes a lack of experience meant he struggled to get through difficult moments. This was a player, however, who was handed starts in a defence which leaked goals frequently.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (C) in action with Liverpool’s Javier Manquillo (L) and Lucas Leiva
It was a highly pressured environment full of plenty of expectation, and he didn’t see to be a favourite of Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager at the time.
Upon signing for Sunderland, he told their official website: “I come to Sunderland with a lot of experience. I am very happy to be here and I can assure every single Sunderland fan that I will be giving my best at every training day and match. I want to give everything inside of me for this club.”
Picture Supplied by Action Images
That experience at Liverpool, along with his stint of pretty regular football in Ligue 1 with Marseille may mean he returns to the Premier League as a better player. He has experienced huge pressure and expectation. He will experience that at the Stadium of Light, though it may be a slightly different one.
The 22-year-old will be playing for a manager who wants his side to be more organised and there will be less emphasis on having to fly up and down the flanks like his last time in England. He also comes into the league with his eyes wide open of what to expect in terms of both the standard and quality that will be on show.
Given Sunderland haven’t had much luck with injuries of late, the chances are the fans won’t have to wait long for Manquillo to make his bow on Wearside. It will be fascinating to see what changes, if any, he has managed to make to his game since he last featured in English football, and whether he’s now at a club where they style is more to his suiting.
Picture Supplied by Action Images – Javier Manquillo
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