Jamie Carragher has admitted he “cannot believe” Manchester City defender Ruben Dias is aged just 23.
Dias, who earns £115,000-a-week (Spotrac), could end up having a stunning first season at the Etihad Stadium.
The Portuguese defender has already won the Carabao Cup during his first year with the club, plus Man City are on the brink of winning the Premier League title.
As well as the domestic success, Pep Guardiola’s side reached the Champions League final after beating Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. They will face either Chelsea or Real Madrid in the final.
Pundit Carragher has claimed that Dias is a no-nonsense centre-back that he loves watching on the pitch.
“I love him. I think he has been the best player in the Premier League this season. I think he has had a huge effect on Manchester City,” Carragher told CBS Sorts on Paramount+ (10:25pm, 4 May).
“Even when he speaks and you watch him play. You cannot believe he is 23 – when you are a centre-back, and a great centre-back and he is a great centre-back, the great ones just don’t play their own game. They almost play other people’s game.”
TBR’s View:
Dias, who was signed last summer from Benfica, has arguably been the best defenders across the whole of Europe this season.
The aggressive centre-half was a colossus at the heart of his team’s defence yesterday in the 2-0 win over PSG, giving his side a 4-1 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League final.
His partnership alongside England international John Stones is formidable, and it looks like he’s getting the best out of others around him.
Dias has got such maturity in the way he defends for a 23-year-old, which means his potential is frightening.