DIEGO LAXALT signed for Celtic tonight and we asked our friends and colleagues at Sempre Milan for an inside track on the Uruguayan Internationalist. Laxalt signed on a season-long loan from Milan, the team at one of the leading Italian sites on I Rossoneri, discussed what the Celtic supporters can expect from their latest signing. The 27-year-old will be able to play against Milan in the Europa League.
With a four leaf clover on his wrist… https://t.co/tro4xfwb9m
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe85) October 5, 2020
What kind of player can Celtic expect from Laxalt?
We never really saw too much of Diego Laxalt. He made 35 appearances for the club with the bulk of those coming as substitute appearances in the 2018-19 season, but he is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the left flank. He has a nice burst of pace, is a competent dribbler, gets forward well, has a good engine and battles hard.
Will he be able to adapt to the physical Scottish game?
I believe so. He’s quite a nippy defender who really lives up to the Uruguayan bulldog spirit in many ways. I think he could be perfect for Scotland because he should be head and shoulders above most others in his position in the league and should provide a nice mix of physicality and finesse.
He is a versatile player, but will he be suited to a 3-5-2 in which attacking is more important than defending?
Yes he should be, his ideal position is as a left wing-back given his engine and ability to affect the game at both ends, and the more he can affect the game in the final third the better.
Celtic’s new number 93. Laxalt was born in 1993 in case you didn’t get that.
Hear from him on the late @STVNews tonight and on @STVSport website.
Just to confirm there is no option to buy Laxalt for Celtic but he is eligible to play against AC Milan pic.twitter.com/yfRKtixfqm
— Ronnie Charters (@STVRonnie) October 5, 2020
Why has it not worked out for him in Milan?
Five words: Ricardo Rodriguez and Theo Hernandez. The former held down a starting spot for pretty much the entirety of 2018-19 and was a much better fit for a back four, while Theo is one of the best in the world in his position, simply put.
What has his time being like in Milan? Describe it in one sentence.
A frustrating lack of opportunities hindering a talented player.
What is his attacking ability like?
He only managed one assist in his time at Milan but he played less than 1,500 minutes. His record at Genoa (19 combined goals and assists in 117 appearances) is probably a more solid reflection of what he could bring to Celtic, against far far worse opposition.
We are thankful to Sempre Milan and we will speak to them nearer the time of the Europa League Group H ties. Hopefully Laxalt hits the ground running with a debut versus Rangers on October 17 to look forward to.
