Former Brazil international Roberto Carlos believes that Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier is the ultimate example of a modern full-back and has hailed the performances of the versatile defender.
Trippier has been integral to the success of Newcastle since joining the club in the summer of 2022 and has forced his way back into the England side, despite manager Gareth Southgate being blessed with a multitude of excellent options in the full-back positions.
The 33-year-old started all 38 Premier League games last season for Newcastle and has once again been in excellent form at the start of this campaign.
Discussing which current full-backs he most admired, Carlos, who was speaking to JohnnyBet.com, said:
“We can see an evolution in the role of full-backs and I was particularly impressed with Trippier as he was able to play on the left-hand side for the England national team. I wouldn’t have been able to play on the right of defence but in modern football you need to play on both sides. He has an amazing personality and is very good.”
Discussing whether he would have been able to fulfil the role of a modern full-back, who are increasingly being asked to move into central midfield and start attacks, Carlos was incredibly honest.
“No, I was terrible with the ball. That’s why I was always passing to Zizou [Zinedine Zidane], David Beckham and Luis Figo,” he added. “I played a lot without the ball. My thing was to close down the opposing midfielder and make space for our wingers. I liked to play a lot without the ball.”
Roberto Carlos was speaking to JohnnyBet, the social network for sports fans and tipsters. Watch his full interview with leading European football expert Guillem Balague here: https://www.johnnybet.com/interview-with-roberto-carlos
Brazilian legend reveals the English clubs he almost joined
One of the greatest full-backs in history, Roberto Carlos enjoyed a trophy-laden career for both club and country. The Brazilian won the World Cup in 2002 and was instrumental in helping Real Madrid secure four league titles and three Champions League trophies.
The runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1997, Carlos was renowned for his surging runs from left-back and his incredible ability to hit a ball with both power and a huge amount of bend. He also possessed a tremendous work rate that allowed him to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Considered to be one of the most offensive-minded full-backs to have ever played the game, Carlos is rightfully associated with Madrid after spending 11 years at Los Blancos and playing almost 500 games in all competitions.
However, it seems as though he could have played in the Premier League after revealing he twice came close to joining an English club.
“When I was around 20 or 21 I came close to joining Aston Villa, which was when I was just starting to play in the Brazilian national team, then in 2007, when I left Real Madrid I had the opportunity to play in England for Chelsea. I spoke to Roman Abramóvich about the situation but we failed to reach an agreement because of the smallest details.”
While Carlos was entering the latter stages of his career in 2007, the same year in which Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager of Chelsea, the Brazilian’s proposed move to Villa Park was in the mid-1990s when he was still playing in his homeland for Palmeiras.
Despite failing to secure a move to England, he did play under an English manager after spending one season under Roy Hodgson at Inter Milan.
Roberto Carlos was speaking to JohnnyBet, the social network for sports fans and tipsters. Watch his full interview with leading European football expert Guillem Balague here: https://www.johnnybet.com/interview-with-roberto-carlos
Bellingham has earned comparisons with Zidane and Raul
Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos believes that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham can rightfully be compared with the likes of French superstar Zinedine Zidane, former Spanish striker Raúl and ex-Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo following his remarkable start to life in the Spanish capital.
The former Borussia Dortmund ace only signed for Madrid in the summer but has already become a firm fan favourite thanks to a number of impressive performances and scoring some crucial goals.
Bellingham scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Barcelona at the weekend, thundering in an equaliser from 25 yards and then striking in stoppage time to secure victory in his first El Clasico.
The 20-year-old now has 13 goals in 13 games in all competitions and Carlos believes that comparisons with some Madrid legends are justified. Speaking to JohnnyBet.com he said: “At certain moments he reminds me of Zizou, then he plays a bit more like Raúl.
“He also has the intelligence of Fernando Redondo so he really has a bit of each player. But I always say that every footballer has their own style of play and he has some amazing qualities.”
Having played in a deeper position for Dortmund, Bellingham has been asked to play more as a number 10 for Los Blancos and has already become a hugely influential figure at Madrid.
He’s already scored more goals in a season than Zidane ever managed, with the Frenchman’s best return being 12 goals in all competitions, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has tipped him to reach 20 goals this season easily.
And Carlos believes that Bellingham could well go on to star for Madrid for many years to come, adding: “He is a modern Englishman, a great footballer and a person who wants to learn. He’s already said that he wants to play in the Madrid shirt for 15 years so it’s a great pleasure to hear that from such a young man, especially one with so much potential and personality.
“He’s adapted really quickly and Real Madrid fans are very happy with him. In so many games this season he has been the best player on the pitch.”
Roberto Carlos was speaking to JohnnyBet, the social network for sports fans and tipsters. Watch his full interview with leading European football expert Guillem Balague here: https://www.johnnybet.com/interview-with-roberto-carlos
