Sandro Ramirez - A steal of a signing for Everton who has left Barcelona feeling blueThe ECHO spoke to Barcelona-based journalist Samuel Marsden to get his take on Sandro's transfer to Everton
What can Everton fans expect from Sandro Ramirez? What is his style of play?
Last season was his first year playing regularly in Spain’s top flight and he came up with 16 goals in 31 appearances. He scored all types of goals, too: free-kicks, headers, tap-ins. Without his goals, Malaga would have been in a relegation scrap and his former club Barcelona might have won the league -- he scored one of the goals which contributed to them missing out on the title.
He’s not tall, but he’s strong and looks and plays like someone who is much older than 21. He can play with his back to goal and is a good outlet to hold up the ball and bring others into play. Atletico Madrid have had a pretty good eye for a striker in recent years, so their pursuit of him tells you there's something about him.
Is he a bargain at £5.2m?
Without doubt. His agent Gines Carvajal was clever to include that clause in his deal when he signed for Malaga, but the Spanish club must be lamenting their failure to make it a bit higher.
Everyone knows how inflated the market is these days, so at that price, Sandro’s an absolute steal.What is the feeling in Barcelona after he left the club on a free transfer in 2016?Many people around the club cannot get over the club’s decision to let him leave for free when he still had time to run on his contract -- especially when they then signed Paco Alcacer for ?30 million to effectively play a similar backup role. And considering no one would dispute that ?5.2m is a bargain for him now, they have been proved right.
That said, not many feel Barca have lost a true star. As a product of La Masia, they would have liked to have him around the squad and given more of a chance -- he could have been a good understudy to Luis Suarez -- but ultimately there are doubts whether he’d ever have developed into a regular at Camp Nou. Luis Enrique certainly didn’t think he had a future at the club.
Do you think he will be able to adjust to the Premier League?Ignoring how easily he settles into life in England and adapts to his new surroundings, you’d have to say his playing attributes are very much suited to the Premier League. In that sense, he’s not the modern Spanish forward. Despite not being the tallest, he has the qualities of a more traditional No.9, but he will need time and a run of games.
What were his most memorable moments at Barca?
Sandro won’t forget his first team debut in 2014. He netted the winning goal in the second league game of the season against Villarreal, scoring in the final 10 minutes to secure a 1-0 win after coming on as a substitute.
Another highlight was his only hat-trick for the club, which came in a Copa del Rey win against Villanovense the following season.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/sandro-ramirez-steal-signing-everton-13223975愛華頓
