English fans are not accustomed to seeing skills and tricks, which is why Luis Diaz is proving to be such a big hit at Liverpool.
That’s the opinion of Colombian icon Tino Asprilla, who believes his compatriot could be playing for Real Madrid ahead of Vinicius Junior.
Diaz arrived at Anfield in a £40.5m deal from Porto at the end of the January transfer window after three years of starring for the Portuguese side.
He’s been an instant hit for Liverpool since his arrival, with a series of scintillating displays and four goals and three assists in 18 appearances so far.
He is already a firm fan favourite and continued building on that over the weekend in Liverpool’s 2-0 over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
That game saw him pick up an assist and showcase his skills in a 30-minute cameo, with one particular move, in which he captured a high ball with a flick of his boot, earning praise from fans and commentators alike as well as going viral on social media.
There’s no doubt that Liverpool have a star in the making, and Asprilla believes he’d have a current Real Madrid man sitting on the bench.
“The English are not used to seeing these things; it’s very difficult, that’s why when he did it they were surprised. It’s just that the English are made to play with a seriousness…” he told ESPN.
“That’s why the South Americans are so sought after. That’s for special players.
“Even in the warm-up he did with Thiago Alcantara, people were going crazy when they started playing little games. You hardly ever see that kind of thing,” said the former striker.
“The doubt was whether this boy was going to have a place; a place was opened up. If there is a place in Liverpool, there is a place in Real Madrid. Don’t tell me that Vinicius is going to put him on the bench, never in his life.”
