Pedro Sousa calls Sporting star a flop: he's Sporting's Sudakov | OneFootball

Rodrigo Zalazar has come under scrutiny after a start to the season below expectations, despite having joined Sporting as the most expensive signing in the club’s history. The Uruguayan midfielder, who cost around €30 million, was the subject of debate, with Pedro Sousa and Gonçalo Monteiro assessing the impact of the number 17.

Pedro Sousa drew a direct comparison between Zalazar and Georgiy Sudakov, the midfielder who plays for Benfica, placing the two players on a similar level in terms of the expectations surrounding them. The commentator was emphatic in stating: "Zalazar is Sporting’s Sudakov," he said on the Now channel.

The analysis comes at a time when Zalazar’s statistical output has been declining since the opening matchday. The commentator pointed specifically to that drop and said that the Uruguayan international has been posting lower ratings across different performance metrics.

Gonçalo Monteiro, on the other hand, offered a more favorable perspective on the midfielder’s use. The coach highlighted the player’s importance in Sporting’s defensive balance and attacking build-up, considering that his tactical contribution still justifies his place in Rui Borges’ starting eleven.

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