Manager claims defender Spurs sold in 2023 is better than Virgil van Dijk

A manager who plies his trade in Turkey has just made an astounding comment about a player who Tottenham Hotspur sold in the summer of 2023.

Tottenham flop now shining

The player in question is Davinson Sanchez, who many Tottenham fans will not have fond memories of.

While the Colombian made a decent start to his Spurs career after his big-money switch from Ajax in 2017, he endured an extremely torrid time towards the end of his spell in the North London club.

In fact, Sanchez was booed by his own fans last year during Tottenham’s loss to Bournemouth, forcing then interim boss Cristian Stellini to take him off after just 20 minutes (ESPN).

Sanchez better than Van Dijk?

Sanchez has done exceedingly well in Istanbul since swapping Tottenham for Galatasaray back in the summer of 2023, with the 28-year-old emerging as one of the best defenders in the Turkish top flight.

This has led Sivasspor manager Servet Cetin to make a rather outlandish statement about the former Spurs man, alleging that he is a more complete defender than Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

Cetin said in an interview with Ajansspor: “Sanchez is a better centre-back than Dijk. In England, centre-backs play locally, they do not disturb their positions. They don’t get into the ranks of the right-back or left-back.

“They always take a position in the centre. They usually play heavy. Because they are physically good, they intercept the ball in the centre. But they falter when they have to open up. Van Dijk had a very difficult time against Barış Alper Yılmaz in the Turkey – Netherlands national match.

“Sanchez, on the other hand, has a one-on-one game. He has pace, plays in a wider area and doesn’t miss men. He does a much more difficult job. He gets off the ball very well. Sanchez is a much better stopper than van Dijk.

“Maybe people will say come off it, but it doesn’t matter if it’s Liverpool. For example, Sami Hyypia came to Turkey and was not liked. So, Sanchez is better than van Dijk and many other centre-backs in the Premier League.”

Super Lig a different kettle of fish

Football is a game of opinions but for Cetin to suggest that it is more difficult to be a centre-back in the Turkish top flight than the Premier League is perhaps one of the wildest takes anyone would have ever given.

Spurs fans would certainly not agree with his comments and one suspects that even Sanchez would not suggest that he is better than Van Dijk.

The reality is that the quality of football in the Turkish top flight cannot be compared with the Premier League, which is getting better and better each season due to its financial might.

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