Fabio Coentrao will be the best Left Back in the World – Atletico Madrid’s Silvio

Atletico defender has praised his former Rio Ave teammate Fabio Coentrao by saying that he has the potential to become one of the game’s best wingbacks.

“He is a spectacular player. I hope he moves to Real Madrid [so I can] face him in Spain. He is the best left-back in Portugal and he will surely be the best one in the world.”

“I do not understand how he has not been at one of the best clubs in Europe for a long time.”

“If he moves to Real Madrid, he will wind up being considered the best player in his position for many years,” said Silvio.

Coentrao started his career with the youth team of Rio Ave, before making his way up the pecking order and becoming a first team regular. His glittering performances in the 2006/2007 earned him the Breakthrough Player Award and later a move to Benfica.

Initially he was loaned out to three clubs Real Zaragoza, Nacional and his former club Rio Ave, before his establishment in the first team at the Estadio do Luz in the 2010/2011 season. He also appeared at the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Portuguese National
Team.

By this time his stock had been raised significantly, and the Benfica Hierarchy added a €30 million buyout clause to his current contract, which runs tills 2016.

And according to reports, Real Madrid are on the trail of the Selecao International and are looking to unite him with International Teammates Ricardo Carvalho and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. Portugal Captain Ronaldo was also full of praise for the
23-year-old and said that he would be an excellent signing for Los Blancos.

But the move was recently waived by the Lisbon outfit, as Real were unwilling to match their evaluation of the player  and the club officials were exercising legal action against Coentrao, for making his desire to play for the Whites publicly known.

 But this has not deterred the Spanish giants, who are keen to add some much needed depth to their squad and will go to extreme lengths to acquire the talented youngster. The Madrid based club are reportedly making a players plus cash deal, which would see
Ezequiel Garay and Pablo Sarabia move to Portugal.

Coentrao’s style of play has been likened to that of Bayern Munich Ace Arjen Robben due to his explosive runs and shooting, but his defensive capabilities makes him a wingback, a position, which has been best portrayed by former Brazilian International Roberto
Carlos in recent times.

But given his young age and his undoubted potential, Fabio Coentrao definitely has the ability to make it at the highest stage.