Steve Gibson will love what Mauricio Pochettino has just said about Middlesbrough star | OneFootball

Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson will love what Mauricio Pochettino has just said about summer signing Sebastian Berhalter.

Sebastian Berhalter has been praised by USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino, which will be loved by Middlesbrough chairman and owner Steve Gibson.

So far in 2026/27, Middlesbrough are firmly in the Championship promotion mix after signing no fewer than 12 players in the summer transfer window. Sebastian Berhalter was among those signed after the sales of Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker.

It's a new-look Boro side under Kim Hellberg, having raised the funds via those sales, as well as Abdoulaye Kante, Kaly Sene, and a sell-on clause in Morgan Rogers' deal as well. Berhalter has filled the role of Hayden Hackney alongside Aidan Morris.

Mauricio Pochettino's verdict on Middlesbrough midfielder Sebastian Berhalter

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Despite WIll Lankshear making the headlines to start this season, the bargain £1.5 million deal for Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps stands out as one of the best deals the club did over the summer.

Berhalter is on international duty with World Cup hosts USA currently, having added to his two goals and two assists for Middlesbrough already. In friendlies against Peru and Chile, the midfielder has added a goal and an assist in each match, with the scores ending 4-1 and 4-2 respectively.

The Middlesbrough midfielder started the clash against Chile and former Tottenham Hotspur manager Maurico Pochettino said: "He is a player with the energy and the commitment and everything that he does is for the badge, for the national team."

As relayed by Teesside Live, he added: "Of course, it’s for him, but he fights for his team-mates and he is a very good role model for the players who arrive for the first time, or the players who are maybe watching from home.

"He shows the way that we expect a player to behave and show commitment. Of course, that is one part of him and what we expect, but then it’s the quality from him. Delivering quality set-pieces, how he is with the ball, scoring goals from the second line.

"[He] can play from the left, can play from the right, can play as a midfielder box-to-box, but he can also play like a holding midfielder and a number ten. Different positions but always very happy."

"He will do anything for the national team, and these type of players are priceless, and to have a player like him is priceless.

"It’s difficult to put in value not only what he’s doing for us on the pitch, but also the way that he shows the other players how to be professional, how to care for yourself... he’s a great, great guy."

Steve Gibson and Middlesbrough will be delighted with Sebastian Berhalter verdict

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It's fair to say that there will be plenty of smiles around Middlesbrough after Pochettino described Berhalter as “priceless” — particularly from Steve Gibson, who will know exactly what such praise could mean for Boro's investment.

Hearing a player described in those terms by a first-rate manager is a huge compliment and reinforces the idea that Middlesbrough may have acquired an asset whose value could rise significantly.

There are understandably other stars attracting attention during Boro's promotion push, but Berhalter is right up there among the standout performers. He has also shown himself to be a class act on and off the pitch, making his growing reputation all the more encouraging.

If he continues developing at this rate, Boro could eventually command a handsome profit for the USMNT star. He and Morris are best of friends and could dominate the Championship as a midfield pairing, allowing the attacking players to flourish in front of them as they orchestrate.

Middlesbrough's squad outlook 2026/27

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Middlesbrough have put plenty of their Championship rivals to shame with the work they did during the summer, particularly clubs benefiting from parachute payments that should be able to recruit well.

Their recruitment has strengthened almost every area of the squad, leaving Hellberg with more depth and quality than Boro have had for some time, while the Swede has also quickly shown himself to be an excellent coach.

That combination provides a strong platform for a promotion push, but Middlesbrough should still be looking towards January for further improvements. Max Arfsten and Neto Borges are both useful options, but neither looks like the definitive answer at left-back, while Riley McGree remains the only specialist creative attacking midfielder in the squad.

Addressing those two positions could take Boro from an excellent squad to an almost complete one at Championship