Benfica striker with 8 goals gets slated: he's no good | OneFootball

Marcos Leonardo’s performances at Ajax are sparking debate in the Netherlands, with the Brazilian striker coming under heavy criticism in assessments of his displays so far. The former Benfica player was signed by the Amsterdam club from Al Hilal for €20 million and has scored just one goal in six matches. On the programme Vandaag Inside, Valentijn Driessen, editor-in-chief of the sports section of newspaper Telegraf, did not hold back.

"Everything that was bought for a lot of money is no good. The centre-forward cost almost twenty million and doesn’t know how to play. It was no coincidence that Benfica sold him," he began, also aiming criticism at compatriot Caio Henrique.

By contrast, on Ziggo Sport’s programme "Rondo", former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart was more optimistic. The former Real Madrid player argues that he still prefers Marcos Leonardo to Tolu Arokodare, another striker who has impressed at Ajax. "I think he can do it. He just needs to stay on his feet when he shoots. I don’t know why he always falls over. I hope it has to do with his fitness. If he starts scoring, then the ketchup theory comes into play," he commented.

Ruud Gullit, another major figure in the country, expressed his bewilderment at some of the Brazilian’s performances. "I saw things from him that made me think: he gets scared when the ball comes to him. I even felt sorry for him when he had a chance and fell over," admitted the Milan legend.

It should be remembered that Marcos Leonardo played for Benfica in the 2023/24 season, arriving from Santos for €18 million before being transferred to Al Hilal for around €40 million. In 24 matches for the Eagles, he scored eight goals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.