You often get agents talking up the talents of their clients, but it is a rare occurrence when an agent dismisses the skills of a player. That’s exactly what agent Serge Trimpont has done to Manchester United and Arsenal target Lucas Biglia, stating that he is inferior to Newcastle United midfielder Cheik Tiote. The Toon Terrier has been a revelation in the Premier League, but Biglia’s potential to star in English football is being doubted before he even gets here.
Lucas Rodrigo Biglia has been capped six times by Argentina and the 26-year-old defensive midfielder seems ready to make the step up and leave Belgian giants Anderlecht. He has played over 150 times in the league for Anderlecht since he joined them in 2006 and has achieved all he can in Belgium. Currently out for four months after undergoing shoulder surgery, the Anderlecht captain will be looking to be picked in Argentina’s 2014 World Cup squad and would have a better chance in a higher profile European league.
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However, Trimpont has doubted Biglia’s ability to step up a level. He told Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad: “The Argentine [Biglia] is a good player in Belgium, but nothing has been proven in a high-level competition.” Trimpont even referred to Liverpool flop and current Anderlecht player Milan Jovanovic saying: “ask Jovanovic how difficult it is to succeed in England.” So Trimpont doubts Biglia’s talents, but he’s certain about just one good one ex-Anderlecht star is.
Cheik Tiote only made three appearances during his three years with Anderlecht, but the Ivorian midfielder has since gone from strength to strength, first with Twente and now with Newcastle. Trimpont continued: “This [Tiote] is the strongest player I’ve ever known. In three years in Brussels, he never received his chance. This is the biggest mistake ever made by management Anderlecht. You cannot trust a player for a few months. But three years is hard to understand. Anderlecht sold for 2.5 million to Twente. Today, he is worth ten times more!”
In case you were in any doubt to the point Trimpont is trying to get across, he states: “Tiote is stronger than Biglia.” This might just be ringing in Manchester United’s and Arsenal’s ears when they next scout Biglia, with the Red Devils also thought to be interested in Tiote. There is no doubt that Newcastle got Tiote for an absolute steal and if Trimpont’s comments are anything to go by then the Argentine midfielder wouldn’t be such a bargain. It would be interesting to see Biglia in the Premier League so we can rate his ability for ourselves, but he’d have to go some to outshine the Toon Terrier.
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