Zalazar blasted by Pedro Sousa after Sporting goal: “Worst player” | OneFootball

Rodrigo Zalazar promised to reach 16 goals after the challenge set by Rui Borges, and Pedro Sousa believes the bar makes sense for a player who cost Sporting €30 million. For the pundit, the Uruguayan has the qualities to put up significant numbers over the course of the season.

“16? I think that’s the target that should be set, double figures in goals and assists. He’s a €30 million player, he’s a different kind of player who came in to replace someone who in recent seasons was always in double figures for goals and assists, very different from Trincão, but in the same position,” Pedro Sousa began by explaining.

The executive director of CM Rádio believes that the context at Alvalade should not be directly compared with what Zalazar experienced while playing for Braga, although he considers it natural to expect strong attacking output.

“I’m not making comparisons with what he did at Braga, for a number of reasons, but it was a lot of goals. So, at Sporting, in theory, he would be expected to produce even better numbers, but I think anything above 10/11 goals and assists is a good return,” he added.

Pedro Sousa also drew attention to the weight of the investment made by the Lions. “Zalazar carries the €30 million price tag, let’s not separate that from him. It weighs on everyone. He is the most expensive player in Sporting’s history, and for 3 or 4 matches, he played very little.”

The Uruguayan international’s start also drew harsher criticism. “Between the second and fifth league rounds, he was Sporting’s worst player. In every index, in every algorithm out there. Now he scored a fantastic goal, and I think he needs to be more consistent”, Pedro Sousa concluded.

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