Spurs fans here in the Tavern are humbled by the kind words paid to their young man in a recent interview via the BBC.
Pundits of world football can not always be counted on for the most accurate of reports or rumours, but one thing that they are always at the forefront of is controversy.
Step forward, Leon Osman.
The rise in form for Harry Winks has seen him come on leaps and bounds of late, as he cements his Spurs and England starting positions ahead of big games for both club and country over the next few months. Indeed, his dreams came true, with Gareth Southgate on the other end of the phone calling the young man up for international duties swiftly after impressing at club level.
Rivals Arsenal may disagree with this point, but over the past week, Everton legend Osman has taken to the BBC to share his opinions on the rising star. It seems he regards the 21-year-old as a guaranteed England starter, which was all topped off with the comparison to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo.
When a guest on BBC Radio 5 Live the former Everton man stated: “He’s the guy who Italy had in Pirlo, I’m not saying he’s at that level yet, but he links everything up. He’s the guy who links the back and the front up.”
This is obviously a very bold statement to make to compare any player to one of the worlds greatest at such a young age.
But many fans here in the Tavern aren’t all too shocked by these claims, as some promising words towards a possible future England star can go a long way in building the confidence of the young man.
With Osman speaking kindly in turn, here’s TWO reasons as to why Osman may just have a valuable point…
Similar styles
Harry Winks and Andre Pirlo share exactly the same role on the park, in the centre of midfield operating as the ‘creator’ by stringing passes together. Working to link defence into attack, that sort of play is what gave Pirlo the title of a great that he feeds off today.
Very similarly, both are based around a clever passing game, not always looking for those famous diagonal balls.
Harry Winks has been given a slightly defensive free roam role in front of the defenders picking up loose balls, which can then be distributed. Comparisons are there with the way Pirlo sets out, but obviously, the Italian’s skill set is considerably higher as he cements legendary status.
Similar career paths
In comparison to Harry Winks, both at age 21 when they enjoyed their breakthrough with Andrea Pirlo getting a move to Italian giants AC Milan around that time.
Having impressed in previous years, they were both given a chance to shine on the big stage at what seems to be a reoccurring breakthrough age of 21.
So with both men enjoying almost identical career opportunities at the young age of 21, as Pirlo comes to the end of his, is this the reincarnation of the next?
Let us know your thoughts.
