Lazio manager Marco Baroni couldn’t contain his admiration for Super Eagles star Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, whom he strongly believes has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
But Baroni claims, only if the Nigerian sharpens certain aspects of his game, Footballrover reports.
After an outstanding performance in Lazio’s 3-1 UEFA Europa League triumph over Ajax, the 23-year-old Nigerian international showed why he is the next big thing to watch out for.
The Lazio manager has urged the Super Eagles star to take crucial steps to improve his game and fulfil his potential as a remarkable midfielder.
A brilliant performance against Ajax
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru delivered a match-winning display during Lazio’s vital victory over Ajax on matchday six of the UEFA Europa League.
The midfielder scored the decisive second goal in the 52nd minute, just three minutes after Ajax’s Bertrand Traoré had equalised.
Positioned perfectly at the back post, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru capitalised on Zaccagni’s low cross, sending a powerful shot past Ajax’s goalkeeper, Remko Pasveer—a remarkable one-time effort from the midfielder
Although Pasveer initially seemed to have saved the shot, goal-line technology confirmed it had crossed the line, giving Lazio the edge they needed.
With this performance, Dele-Bashiru brought his Europa League goal contributions to four in just as many matches.
Baroni’s verdict: What Dele-Bashiru must improve on
Despite his immense potential, Lazio coach Marco Baroni has pinpointed areas where Dele-Bashiru needs to improve to reach the elite level.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Baroni highlighted the Nigerian’s physicality and technical abilities, describing them as “devastating.”
However, he stressed that the key to Dele-Bashiru becoming a remarkable midfielder lies in syncing his mental speed with his physical game.
“Fisayo Dele-Bashiru comes from a different football where he doesn’t need as much focus.
”His physicality is devastating, and he has good technique, but where he needs to improve, and he is doing that, is matching the speed of his brain to his legs. When he does that, he becomes really a remarkable midfielder,” Baroni said.
Dele-Bashiru: The versatile box-to-box midfielder
The Manchester City academy graduate has proven his versatility by excelling in multiple midfield roles.
For the Super Eagles, he often operates as an attacking midfielder but is equally comfortable in central or box-to-box positions.
Speaking after the Ajax victory, he expressed his preference for the box-to-box role, emphasising his ability to balance offensive and defensive responsibilities, claiming that scoring is an added bonus.
Dele-Bashiru expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience, noting that their belief in themselves played a key role in their victory.
Reflecting on his performance, he admitted that his goal was fortunate but emphasised that it had boosted his confidence.
He acknowledged that fans were initially unfamiliar with him when he joined but assured them he is giving his best.
He also mentioned feeling at ease playing alongside any teammate, showing his adaptability on the field.
A bright future for Lazio and the Super Eagles
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s performances for Lazio in the Europa League are highly commendable after helping the Serie A side secure a spot in the knockout phase.
As the Nigerian midfielder continues to refine his game under Baroni’s guidance, his potential to become a world-class talent is clearly increasing.
For both Lazio and the Super Eagles, a fully developed Dele-Bashiru could be a game-changer.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru stands at the cusp of greatness.
He has shown flashes of brilliance, but the journey to becoming a truly ‘remarkable midfielder’ now requires his constant improvement.
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