Worked with the Uruguayan and has no doubts: “It will be very difficult for Sporting to hold onto Maxi Araújo”

Gustavo Ferreyra has worked with Maxi Araújo since the player was 16. Araújo, who has enjoyed fantastic growth at Alvalade and is currently a key figure for the South American national team. In conversation with A BOLA, the former Uruguay youth national team coach expressed no doubts about what the Sporting star could achieve at this World Cup.

“He will be a prominent player at the World Cup because he’s a player Marcelo Bielsa has consistently used. Since Bielsa arrived, he’s given Araújo confidence and playing time, always including him in squads. He’s an important player for both the coach and the national team. It will be very difficult for Sporting to keep him because his level has risen significantly in recent years. I wouldn't be surprised to see other major European teams interested in signing Maxi,” the coach confessed, highlighting his versatility:

“He’s a player who performs perfectly on the left flank, whether as a full-back or a winger. He possesses that versatility. He’s powerful, fast, strong; when he started in the youth national teams here, he was a full-back and ended up as a pure winger. He has the potential to play further forward, and if he needs to do defensive work, he does it competently.”