Anderson Talisca\u2019s unveiling by Al Nassr was as shocking, as it was surprising.
\nIncensed Al Hilal supporters had to both digest the chastening loss of this long-term target to a bitter rival, plus incendiary mocking laughter as the $8 million ex-Brazil Under-23 international announced his bombshell move while taking in highlights of Friday\u2019s painful 1-1 draw for former suitors against promoted Al Batin.
\nVillain, and hero, status secured instantly in a social media post. Dependent on the persuasion of Riyadh\u2019s impassioned football fans.
\nThe key question, however, is will time turn Talisca\u2019s chuckles into a glaring act of hubris, or can the tables now start to turn in the capital?
\nA quick scan of the Saudi Professional League standings details how big gap the gap has grown since 2018\/19\u2019s gripping title race was edged by Nassr.
\nHilal need only two points to be confirmed as champions for a ninth time this century. They have gained 21 more points than their neighbours \u2013 who do hold a game in hand – since the start of 2019\/20, scored 22 more goals and conceded 11 fewer times.
\nIt is into this arena that Talisca has entered.
\nNassr\u2019s seven-strong foreign contingent requires extensive remodelling. Morocco stars Abderrazak Hamdallah and Nordin Amrabat, plus waylaid Argentina playmaker Pity Martinez, may be the only survivors for 2021\/22.
\nTalisca\u2019s reputation has remained rich, despite a lack of game time this year after China\u2019s stringent coronavirus travel rules left him stuck in Brazil.
\nA grand talent coveted by Jose Mourinho emerged at Benfica, before gaining more silverware \u2013 and greater riches \u2013 at Besiktas and Guangzhou Evergrande.
\nTalisca is yellow ?? pic.twitter.com\/6p7y6Plku4— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 17, 2021
\nThe inability to acquire more ACL trophies for the Chinese heavyweights is an issue, yet a return of 39 goals in 65 matches points to residual potency.
\nIt is in attacking midfield where much of a stellar career has been performed.
\nYet 2020\u2019s final, coronavirus-interrupted season at Guangzhou witnessed him make 10 of 19 appearances at centre forward, netting six times and providing two assists. A trio of run-outs in the playmaker role featured zero goal contributions, with six displays at right wing returning a single goal and assist.
\nThe tall 27-year-old, then, offers a quandary for whomever inherits him in the Kingdom.
\nA ratio of 132 .7 minutes per goal for 2020 from centre forward is superior to Nassr\u2019s resident hot shot Hamdallah\u2019s of 139.8 for 2020\/21. Yet the Moroccan is a club icon and significant force, for good and bad, in the dressing room.
\nQuestions abound.
\nCan Talisca and Hamdallah coexist efficiently in Nassr\u2019s XI? They share many physical attributes, plus now favour operating in the same areas of the pitch.
\nDoes the new man represent a fresh source of goals for Hamdallah, alternative option in attack or evidence of a transition away from the club\u2019s dominant figure in recent years?
\nWith unattached ex-Shakhtar Donetsk and Jiangsu Suning attacker Alex Teixeira still available, will these Middle East grandees clash again this summer in the transfer market?
\nIt is a good problem to possess sublimely talented individuals. But an XI hampered by dysfunction cannot hope to overhaul Hilal.
\nSmart and bold solutions must be found.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Anderson Talisca\u2019s unveiling by Al Nassr was as shocking, as it was surprising.
\nIncensed Al Hilal supporters had to both digest the chastening loss of this long-term target to a bitter rival, plus incendiary mocking laughter as the $8 million ex-Brazil Under-23 international announced his bombshell move while taking in highlights of Friday\u2019s painful 1-1 draw for former suitors against promoted Al Batin.
\nVillain, and hero, status secured instantly in a social media post. Dependent on the persuasion of Riyadh\u2019s impassioned football fans.
\nThe key question, however, is will time turn Talisca\u2019s chuckles into a glaring act of hubris, or can the tables now start to turn in the capital?
\nA quick scan of the Saudi Professional League standings details how big gap the gap has grown since 2018\/19\u2019s gripping title race was edged by Nassr.
\nHilal need only two points to be confirmed as champions for a ninth time this century. They have gained 21 more points than their neighbours \u2013 who do hold a game in hand \u2013 since the start of 2019\/20, scored 22 more goals and conceded 11 fewer times.
\nIt is into this arena that Talisca has entered.
\nNassr\u2019s seven-strong foreign contingent requires extensive remodelling. Morocco stars Abderrazak Hamdallah and Nordin Amrabat, plus waylaid Argentina playmaker Pity Martinez, may be the only survivors for 2021\/22.
\nTalisca\u2019s reputation has remained rich, despite a lack of game time this year after China\u2019s stringent coronavirus travel rules left him stuck in Brazil.
\nA grand talent coveted by Jose Mourinho emerged at Benfica, before gaining more silverware \u2013 and greater riches \u2013 at Besiktas and Guangzhou Evergrande.
\nTalisca is yellow ?? pic.twitter.com\/6p7y6Plku4\u2014 AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 17, 2021
\nThe inability to acquire more ACL trophies for the Chinese heavyweights is an issue, yet a return of 39 goals in 65 matches points to residual potency.
\nIt is in attacking midfield where much of a stellar career has been performed.
\nYet 2020\u2019s final, coronavirus-interrupted season at Guangzhou witnessed him make 10 of 19 appearances at centre forward, netting six times and providing two assists. A trio of run-outs in the playmaker role featured zero goal contributions, with six displays at right wing returning a single goal and assist.
\nThe tall 27-year-old, then, offers a quandary for whomever inherits him in the Kingdom.
\nA ratio of 132 .7 minutes per goal for 2020 from centre forward is superior to Nassr\u2019s resident hot shot Hamdallah\u2019s of 139.8 for 2020\/21. Yet the Moroccan is a club icon and significant force, for good and bad, in the dressing room.
\nQuestions abound.
\nCan Talisca and Hamdallah coexist efficiently in Nassr\u2019s XI? They share many physical attributes, plus now favour operating in the same areas of the pitch.
\nDoes the new man represent a fresh source of goals for Hamdallah, alternative option in attack or evidence of a transition away from the club\u2019s dominant figure in recent years?
\nWith unattached ex-Shakhtar Donetsk and Jiangsu Suning attacker Alex Teixeira still available, will these Middle East grandees clash again this summer in the transfer market?
\nIt is a good problem to possess sublimely talented individuals. But an XI hampered by dysfunction cannot hope to overhaul Hilal.
\nSmart and bold solutions must be found.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73535"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73535"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73536,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73535\/revisions\/73536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}