When Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a season-ending injury this time last year, it left many Tottenham fans gutted because of his importance to the team.
Since then, the 26-year-old has returned to action and has started six Premier League games for his new boss, Ange Postecoglou.
The popular Tottenham player is still trying to get back to his best, but he was recently lauded and applauded by his rival over at West Ham United.
James Ward-Prowse was told to name who he thinks is the most underrated Premier League player right now and he put forward Rodrigo Bentancur’s name.
The West Ham deadball specialist says the one quality that stands out about the £22 million signing is his ‘energy’ and how he is also ‘quite infectious with how he plays’, as he told Sky Sports.
When Rodrigo Bentancur first joined Spurs in 2022, he arrived with the club pushing for Champions League football, with the midfielder’s arrival, alongside Dejan Kulusevski, helping the team beat Arsenal to fourth spot.
That’s why the Uruguay star is such a firm fan favourite with those at Hotspur Way, but it also seems as though he has a fan in James Ward-Prowse.
Rodrigo Bentancur’s qualities
“He hasn’t featured as much,” said Ward-Prowse. “But when I have seen him, I really like him. Bentancur.
“From the times I have watched him, the things that stand out is his energy, the way he can get about and I think he is quite infectious with how he plays.
“He can pick up the ball. Drive. Makes good decisions. I just think he looks quite good on the eye, so I would say Bentancur (as the most underrated).”
Rodrigo Bentancur will be back to his best…
It needs to be noted that Bentancur was out for a long time and then he suffered a mini setback, and that hasn’t helped his cause.
Added to that, he just needs to get back into the rhythm of things, especially for this fast-paced Spurs side, and that might take extra time.
One thing is for sure, whether it’s towards the final few months of this campaign, or it comes next season, Bentancur will be back to his best and proving to be one of the best midfielders in the league again.
It could be argued, given his all-round qualities that he is probably Tottenham’s best player on paper because he can certainly play that box-to-box role.
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