Player’s former coach labels Chelsea’s new signing as a ‘defensive animal’

New Chelsea winger Diego Moreira labelled as a “defensive animal” by his former coach

New Chelsea signing Diego Moreira is labelled as a “defensive animal” by his former coach Luis Castro, who was working with the player last season.

Moreira is a free signing for the Blues after he impressed in the youth setup of Portuguese club Benfica. Castro used to work with him there on the B side.

The 18-year-old Portugal U-21 international is actually a left-footed winger who can ply his trade on either side of the attack. He moved from Belgian club Standard Liege to Benfica U-19 in 2020 before playing for their B side last season.

Here’s what Castro said about the youngster, his recent performance graph and what Chelsea from him as a player (h/t Mais Futebol, via Evening Standard):

“He has improved a lot. He has this street football style, but it is increasingly productive.

“He is managing to reconcile being entertaining, because he brings spectacle to the game, with better statistics. And he has a very particular characteristic, which is not normal for a player of his talents, which is the defensive component.

“He’s a defensive animal and I don’t see many wingers worldwide with Diego Moreira’s defensive commitment.”

It is good to know that Moreira is a winger who accepts the defensive responsibility. That would stand him in good stead if and when he starts playing senior football regularly.

He is still a young player who would likely be told to play a season or two for the Chelsea youth sides before climbing up the ladder.

That process can be shortened if the 18-year-old impresses in the pre-season and does well in the early parts of next season for the Chelsea youth team.

The Blues have made plenty of signings of this type since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake takeover. It would now be interesting to see how the club develops the players in the youth system and either make them good enough to play for the senior or sell them at a profit.

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In Moreira’s case, Chelsea have signed him for free. So, whatever they get out of the Portuguese in the coming years would be a massive bonus. Mauricio Pochettino likes to operate with top young players and make them better as well.