Former FC Porto coach Sérgio Conceição has praised Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi for his great speed and skill on the left side. He shared why he wanted Sanusi during his time at the Portuguese club, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Conceição spoke on a DAZN program on Thursday. He looked back on Porto’s 2-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022. He talked about what made Sanusi a key player for the team.
The former Porto coach dismissed claims that Sanusi got chances without proving himself. He insisted that the defender had shown he was worth the trust given to him.
“Zaidu a spoiled brat? Honestly, I don’t think so. He’s proven otherwise. The proof of my insistence is that he’s still at FC Porto today and is useful to FC Porto,” Conceição said, as reported by OneFootball.
Conceição also noted Sanusi’s strong physical skills. He highlighted his speed and ability to cover a lot of ground on the pitch from the left side.
“Physically, he’s above average, extremely fast. He runs down the left flank incredibly well,” he added.
This praise comes as Porto is reportedly getting ready to give Sanusi a new contract. The Portuguese newspaper A Bola claims the club plans to extend the defender’s stay soon.
Sanusi’s current deal ends at the season’s close. This means he could talk to other clubs starting in January if no agreement is reached before then.
Despite facing competition from Francisco Moura and Souza recently, Sanusi is still a vital option for Porto’s left defense. He has played in five matches this season.
The 29-year-old is currently out of action due to an adductor injury to his right leg. He got hurt during Porto’s 3-0 win over Académico de Viseu.
Sanusi had to leave the game in the 17th minute after the injury happened while he was trying to play the ball. Martim Fernandes took his place.
Medical tests later confirmed the injury. Reports in Portugal suggest that Sanusi could be out for about two months.
Sanusi joined Porto from Santa Clara in August 2020. He had developed through Portuguese football and played for Gil Vicente and Mirandela before joining Porto.
Since then, he has had many great moments with Porto. This includes scoring the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Benfica in May 2022, which secured the Portuguese league title for the team.
His achievements with the club include two Portuguese league titles, two Portuguese Cups, two Portuguese Super Cups, and a League Cup.
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