A player who is reportedly sought after by Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Jose Mourinho, has been praised by Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
According to Spanish outlet El Desmarque, Mourinho has personally contacted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez about Eder Militao’s availability in the case Jan Vertonghen leaves the club in the summer.
The Belgium international is out of contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of the season and there have been no developments regarding a breakthrough in talks between player and club.
Militao, meanwhile, joined Real from Porto last summer, the Bernabeu side paying a reported €50million (£43million) for the Brazil international’s services, according to Goal.
He has struggled in his maiden season for Real, however, failing to win Zinedine Zidane over, and has made just 13 appearances all season, with a mere seven starts in La Liga, according to Transfermarkt.
Despite his struggles at the Bernabeu, Militao has been given the Messi stamp of approval, the Barca talisman naming him in his 15 “youth on the rise” players for Topps Champions League cards.
“A phenomenal talent and fierce competitor,” Messi wrote about Militao, as quoted by Give Me Sport.
While Militao may be out of favour at Real Madrid, he is certainly a talented player who has impressed throughout most of his senior career – indeed, Mourinho was said to have monitored the defender while he was at Manchester United (Manchester Evening News).
The 23-year-old is confident playing out from the back, comfortable with the ball, isn’t afraid to dribble forward from defence, rarely makes mistakes, and is superb with passes and deliveries, courtesy of his stints at right-back in Brazil.
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However, Militao’s aerial presence has been questioned, and Mourinho could nonetheless have a tough transfer battle on his hands, given the Real board has reportedly placed a £70million price tag on his head.