Jonathan Woodgate has told Tottenham Hotspur’s official website that he really likes new signing Rodrigo Bentancur. The Uruguayan has made an excellent start to life at Spurs, before suffering an ankle problem last week.
Bentancur, 24, had enjoyed three successive Premier League starts before being forced off at half-time against Burnley – which resulted in a dismal 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor. That ankle injury has kept him sidelined since.
Indeed, he missed Saturday’s 4-0 win over Leeds and Antonio Conte has suggested that he could be back for this weekend – but will be missing when Spurs take on Woodgate’s old side Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
Woodgate was full of praise for the midfielder when speaking to Tottenham’s website, ahead of the clash between the two sides. He says that he was watching Bentancur, even before his Juventus days at Boca Juniors.
“You’ve just signed a good player in Bentancur. I watched him at Boca, he was class then. 47 caps for Uruguay. Proper player. Can pass it, break play up, long, short passes. More of a ‘6’ than an ‘8’, a really good, young player.”
Woodgate on Bentancur: Tottenham star crucial to Conte’s era
What Conte needs from his midfielders is a defensive mind, work rate, but also the playmaker abilities to get Spurs on the front foot when in possession. Harry Winks has started to do it, passing forwards more often.
But Bentancur is a combination of both. He has that South American aggression, that dogged determination to put his body on the line. He is good in the air, but when he does win the ball back, he goes forward.
Conte’s system means they draw the opposition in and hit them quickly on the counter. Winks, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at times, have won the ball back and then passed backwards – which keeps Spurs penned in.
Bentancur is excellent at turning out of trouble and feeding the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski – who has also started well. Bentancur is the future of Tottenham’s midfield, at just 24.
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