Former Premier League manager Jose Mourinho has expressed his admiration for Germany’s Euro 2020 star Robin Gosens after Leicester City made a bid for the Atalanta flyer, speaking to talkSPORT (29 June, 9am).
When England supporters everywhere woke from their slumbers this morning, sunburnt and sore-headed, they’d have been forgiven for pinching themselves and double-checking whether Thomas Muller really did put that gilt-edged chance wide of the post.
But while a heart-stopping miss from the Bayern Munich superstar let Gareth Southgate’s boys off the hook at Wembley, it shouldn’t be forgotten Gosens could have broken the deadlock long before Raheem Sterling’s 75th minute strike set England on their way to an iconic 2-0 win.
Only a fine piece of defending from Kieran Trippier denied Gosens a far-post tap-in during a tense first-half.
But while the rampaging left-back will be disappointed to bow out of his first international tournament at the round-of-16 stage, Gosens can still look back on his performances on the biggest of stages with a great degree of pride.
Will Leicester miss out on Germany’s Euro 2020 star Gosens?
“Gosens had a fantastic season at Atalanta, playing in a back three,” Mourinho said of a man who tore Portugal apart in the group stages, scoring and starring in a thrilling 4-2 win.
“He was lucky Joachim Low went in that direction (introducing a three-man defence), bringing his dynamic skills to the national team and playing amazing.
“They killed Portugal by playing (Joshua) Kimmich from the right, coming inside to overload the inside and using Gosens wide on the left.”
One of the most prolific full-backs in European football looks certain to leave Atalanta this summer, and a stellar showing at Euro 2020 will have only intensified the interest of Barcelona, Juventus and co.
Unfortunately for Leicester City, Gosens appears to have slipped through Brendan Rodgers’ fingers.
The Foxes made a £23 million bid in May but, according to Calciomercato, Gosens got cold feet after Leicester dropped out of the Champions League places on the final day of the season for the second year in a row.
After Atalanta sealed their place at Europe’s top table again, why would a man in such high demand swap the continent’s most exciting side for Thursday night football at the King Power?
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