‘Jhon Duran forced out by Cristiano Ronaldo & Sadio Mane – it’s unbelievable’
Jhon Duran will struggle to feature in the starting XI at Al-Nassr after making the big-money switch away from Aston Villa this month.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper and Saudi Pro League expert Paul Robinson insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane are nailed-on starters and will not be rotated out.
As a result, the 21-year-old will be forced to play on the right-hand side if there is no change of system, with Ronaldo playing every week as the sole number nine.
Robinson has described the deal as “unbelievable” and questioned the striker’s decision to leave Villa Park when he’s not guaranteed a place in the first XI.
This comes after Duran’s move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr was confirmed on 31 January.
Football Insider revealed that the Premier League side are set to land significantly more than the initial £64million fee for the Colombia international.
Jhon Duran slammed for quitting Aston Villa in ‘unbelievable’ Al-Nassr claim
Following that news, it was revealed on 31 January that Villa are now prepared to agree multiple signings in the closing stages of the window given the money involved in Duran’s sale.
While Villa’s motivations to cash in on the forward have become clear, Robinson insisted he could not understand Duran’s decision as he will now be competing with two of the biggest names in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo and Mane.
“Duran’s move is an interesting one for me,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s gone to Cristiano Ronaldo’s team and Ronaldo plays as a number nine, week in week out, regardless of who they’re playing against, it’s very unlikely he’s rotated out.
“Mane plays on the left and Ronaldo always plays as a nine.
“They don’t play with two strikers, so how it would’ve been sold to Duran, I don’t know.
“Mane is playing really well this season so they’re not going to rotate him out.
“Angelo the young Brazilian always plays on the right and the way the coach sets up is with three behind Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo plays regardless, so forget that unless he’s injured.
“They don’t have many direct replacements for him so you would expect Duran will spend most of his time out on the right-hand side.
“I can’t understand why he’s going there, it’s unbelievable.”
In other news, Aston Villa work on two defender deals after Tyrone Mings update.
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