Cuellar: Young better suited for Spain than Ron
Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar believes Cristiano Ronaldo's style of play would not be suited to La Liga, and that team-mate Ashley Young's game has a greater chance of succeeding in Spain. The Red Devils' FIFA World Player of the Year has constantly been linked with a move to the Spanish capital, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson, so far, managing to keep hold of his star attraction.
But former Rangers stopper Cuellar, who spent earlier parts of his career at native clubs Calahorra, Numancia and Osasuna, believes the Portuguese's strengths would pose far less of a threat in Spain compared to in the Premier League.
“I’m not sure that [La Liga] is the best for him," he told Spanish paper AS. "He’s a world-class footballer, but Spanish football is more about tactics than here.
“The offensive phases are slower, we work in a different way. He is in the best place to make the most of his explosive power and speed.
“I would compare him with Torres, who is doing better than when he was playing for Atletico [Madrid] because he is quick and makes the most of spaces that the Premier League defenders allow him.
“Those spaces don’t exist in Spain.”
And the centre-back believes that Ronaldo's United team-mates Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez - also linked with a summer move to Madrid - as well as Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa livewire winger Ashley Young would have a greater chance of succeeding in Spain over Ronaldo.
“Rooney, Tevez, Gerrard and many Chelsea players would succeed [in Spain]. To my mind they would adapt better than Cristiano thanks to the way they play," he said.
"[Ashley Young] is made for Spanish football. He is very offensive and can attack from the right and from the left.
“He is quick and is a hard worker, is talented and always gives a hand to the team.”
VILLA FANS! Check FourFourTwo.com’s ever-expandinginterviews archivefor more stuff to read:
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
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