When transfer rumours in 2009 linked the young Brazilian midfielder Sandro to White Hart Lane there were a few raised eyebrows about the unknown player. But with the player also linked to a number of big clubs in Europe, including Tottenham’s arch rivals Arsenal, there was no doubt about his potential. This time last year a deal was made for a reported transfer fee of £9 million and Sandro moved from Brazilian side Internacional to Tottenham Hotspur with the agreement that the player would move after competing in the Copa Libertadores (the South American equivalent of the Champions League) which finished near the end of August.
Sandro, who was a product of Internacional’s youth academy, went on to win the competition last year before moving to his new side in North London. Fast forward to the present day and Spurs have just qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League following their 0-0 home draw against AC Milan last night, winning 1-0 on aggregate. The key player in the two legs was the solid performances from Sandro who showed enough tenacity, strength and discipline to keep Milan at bay, especially in the 2nd leg last night where he played the holding midfield role on his own.
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Harry Redknapp and his coaching team were right to stay patient with the player. It was also a smart move to let him stay at Internacional, there’s no doubt that winning the Copa Libertadores increased his confidence. Sandro only made his 9th start for Spurs against AC Milan last night but didn’t play like a 21 year old fresh from South America, instead he looked like an experienced defensive midfielder making vital interceptions that kept Milan from linking up their midfield to attack.
European football may suit Sandro at this time of his career but there will be high hopes for the player to become one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Redknapp certainly feels that the player has a bright future after last night’s performance by saying “I thought Sandro was immense in midfield, He’s powerful, strong, aggressive. He’s got the ability to run and work for 90 minutes and I felt he turned in a great performance for us. He’s in the Brazilian squad and a young player with a big future.”
The likes of Tom Huddlestone may be looking over their shoulder as Sandro is bound to get more minutes on the pitch in the Spurs shirt and rightly so. But, Redknapp may decide to keep patience with the midfielder and only include him in the right games, although he will be vital if Spurs are to go on to extend their European run by progressing even further in the Champions League this season. He worked well alongside Wilson Palacios in the 1st leg against Milan as both players sat deep to protect the back four, but last night Sandro proved he can do it on his own as Luka Modric was preferred in the middle for the home tie with a more attacking intent.
So, not only can Tottenham fans celebrate being in the last eight of the Champions League, the fact their manager is the first English manager to do so (since Terry Venables with Barcelona in 1986) but also the fact they have a quality midfielder with a great future ahead of him.
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