Fabio Capello hit out at reported Arsenal and Liverpool target Merih Demiral after the Juventus defender made a ‘serious mistake’ in the dramatic Champions League exit to Porto, while speaking to Sky Italia, via Football Italia.
The Turkey international knew what he’d done, almost before he even did it.
As soon as Demiral flew into a tackle on Porto forward Mehdi Taremi, his hands were raised in apology.
In an era where the slightest brush of the fingernail constitutes a foul, Demiral must have known that clattering into the back an opposition striker, inside the 18-yard box, would only result in one thing – a penalty to Porto.
Sergio Oliveira fired home the resulting spot-kick with minimal fuss.
And, while Demiral’s error got lost somewhat in all the furore that surrounded Oliveira’s second of the night – with Wojciech Szczesny and Cristiano Ronaldo the villains of the piece – Capello has the memory of an elephant and the forked tongue of a python.
“The penalty kick tonight is another gift. Too naïve from Demiral,” fumed the former England, Real Madrid and Juve manager.
“You can’t go looking for the interception (inside the penalty box). It’s a serious mistake.”
According to the Daily Star, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to bring the tough-tackling Turk to North London. Liverpool, meanwhile, were willing to pay £50 million in January and may return with a summer approach once Ozan Kabak’s loan deal comes to an end (SportMediaset).
But while Demiral is famed for those bone-crunching challenges – he models himself on Nemanja Vidic after all – there is a time and a place.
And, inside the penalty area, during a crucial Champions League last-16 tie, really isn’t it.
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