Muzaffar Musa
Fri Nov 20 2020

Pemain RB Leipzig, Angelino, melabel rakan sepasukannya, Dayot Upamecano, sebagai 'haiwan buas' ketika memuji pertahanan tengah yang sedang menjadi perhatian ramai itu.
Upamecano sedang hangat dikaitkan untuk menyertai pasukan gergasi Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL), Liverpool dan Manchester United, selepas mempamerkan aksi gemilang bersama kelab Bundesliga, Leipzig.
Juara Jerman, Bayern Munich, turut dikatakan berminat untuk mendapatkan pemain kebangsaan Perancis itu, yang kontraknya bersama Leipzig dilaporkan turut mengandungi klausa pelepasan bernilai sekitar £38juta (Rm206.3 juta) pada penghujung musim ini.
Disebalik spekulasi perpindahan itu, pertahanan sayap Leipzig, Angelino, memuji Upamecano.
"Dia seperti haiwan buas," kata pemain Sepanyol itu kepada Diario AS.
"Fizikalnya amat ganas. Dia mengambil bola daripada pihak lawan dengan amat baik, mengambil risiko dengan baik.
"Dia seperti haiwan buas dan sangat pantas. Dia seorang pertahanan tengah yang sempurna.
"Ketika ini, tidak banyak pemain beraksi di tahap seperti itu. Dia boleh bermain baik dalam formasi tiga atau empat pertahanan," katanya.
Upamecano menyertai Leipzig daripada pasukan gergasi Austria, Salzburg, pada 2017 dan membantu skuad kendalian Julian Nageslmann itu layak ke separuh akhir Liga Juara-Juara Eropah (UCL) musim lalu.
Pemain berusia 22 tahun itu menjaringkan satu gol daripada enam perlawanan Bundesliga musim ini dan turut membuat 10 penampilan dalam kesemua kejohanan musim 2020-21.

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