For a 21-year-old winger, there can be no greater compliment than being compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gerard Deulofeu is having a remarkable season on the Everton wing and it’s not gone unnoticed by the Irishman who has been offering him overlapping laps since August.
Seamus Coleman has been so impressed by his Spanish teammate that he has compared him to a young Cristiano Ronaldo in the way that he uses stepovers to create space for crosses.
Deulofeu turned Fernando Amorebieta inside out with six stepovers before sending in a teasing cross for Romelu Lukaku to head home during the Toffees’ 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the League Cup midweek.
Have a look at Deulofeu’s assist for Lukaku’s goal! CRACK. (via @mirallas) pic.twitter.com/ndI08YMWSi
— La Masia (@Youngcules) December 1, 2015
Coleman said: “I remember when Cristiano Ronaldo broke on the scene first at Manchester United and he was known for his stepovers. Well, the goal Gerry [Deulofeu] set up at Middlesbrough the other night was similar, with the stepovers and then a great final ball.
“I was asking Romelu Lukaku earlier how many goals Gerry has set up for him and he said seven, so I’m sure Rom is looking forward to playing with him for the rest of the season. But what I like about these young lads is that there are no egos. They are all great lads.”
