Former Benfica star Fabio Coentrao was not good enough at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-Zaragoza-c40344 says Marcelino – Report
The Real Madrid star is now acknowledged as one of the finest left-backs in the world but according to his former coach at Real Zaragoza, Marcelino Garcia, he wasn’t nearly as good as he is now.
"He was part of the deal that saw http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Aimar-c28938 join Benfica. He always trained with the first team, but hardly played any games. He simply wasn't better than his rivals for a spot in the starting XI and didn't succeed," he said.
The 45-year-old also said that Coentrao was not fully committed to the club at that time and was eager to part ways with the Blanquillos.
"He never really managed to settle in and didn't look like he cared much for what happened at Zaragoza. I had the feeling that he never wanted to be at Zaragoza and he left again in January,” quoted the former midfielder.
Marcelino also doubted the Portuguese International’s playing position during his tenure at La Romareda and claimed that during his spell with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-c30728 Zaragoza, Coentrao was more of winger and attacking minded than his current role, which sees him press forward
as a fullback.
Despite his previous endeavors in Spain’s La Liga not mirroring his undoubted talents, Coentrao’s stint at the Bernabeu should prove different as he is not only a changed player but has proven his abilities against top teams.
The Selecao International tested his mettle against stern opposition in the Portuguese Primeira Liga week-in, week-out and also starred for the national team in last year’s World Cup. His glittering displays saw him bag 8 goals and 12 assists in 84 appearances
for Benfica, a far cry from his days at Zaragoza, where he managed to take to the pitch only once.
His performances have had their share of admirers, with the most prominent being his International teammate, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629, and his current manager, Jose Mourinho. Both are undoubted superstars in the world of football in their own rights and have touted
Coentrao to scale unprecedented heights on the domestic and world stage.
But the greatest praise the former Rio Ave man has received is the comparisons with legendry http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-Carlos-c31317, who is wildly regarded as one of the best fullbacks to have ever played the game.
However, with a €30 million price tag, the 23-year-old has a lot to prove in the Spanish capital and his earlier stint in the league does not read in his favour. But only time will tell whether Fabio Coentrao becomes the player he has shown glimpses of,
despite his antics in his early years.
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