Tony Cascarino makes companions between the Liverpool defender and former Arsenal star Sol Campbell and Real Madrid ace Raphael Varane.
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has praised Liverpool defender Joel Matip in The Times.
Cascarino was impressed with the performance of Matip for Liverpool against Chelsea on Friday evening.
The 25-year-old defender featured in the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge in London.
The Cameroon international centre-back started the match and played for the entire 90 minutes, as Liverpool registered a 2-1 victory.
Cascarino was following the game, and he was impressed with the performance of Matip.
The former Aston Villa and Celtic striker believes that Matip is in the mould of Real Madrid central defender Raphael Varane.
Cascarino has also claimed that the 25-year-old is the most impressive free transfer for a defender since Sol Campbell went to Arsenal.
Campbell joined Arsenal in the summer of 2001 on a free transfer after leaving bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Matip moved to Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer after leaving German club Schalke at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
“Joel Matip is the most impressive free transfer for a defender that I have seen since Sol Campbell went to Arsenal,” Cascarino wrote in The Times.
“The Cameroon player is outstanding. He glides across the pitch and possesses an aura of unflappability. Matip, signed from Schalke, is in the mould of Raphael Varane at Real Madrid.
“It is incredible that David Luiz cost Chelsea £30 million when, on this evidence, Matip looks like the defender clubs would spend big money on.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United midfielder Jermaine Jenas was also impressed with Matip’s performance against Chelsea and was quoted as saying by BBC Sport during the game (21:53): “There’s been some question marks over Liverpool’s defending over last few years but Matip and Lovren have answered all questions tonight – they have been solid in that back four.”
Cascarino’s companions are quite bold. While Campbell is one of the best defenders of all time, Varane is supremely talented and plays for the world’s biggest club.
Matip has played well for Liverpool so far this season, but it is too early to judge whether he can be as good as Campbell.
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