Brazil Head Coach Dunga doesn’t want Lazio’s Felipe Anderson compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar

Brazil Head Coach Dunga feels it is unfair on Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson to compare him to fellow countryman Neymar and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The 21 year-old, who has been capped by the Seleção at under-17, under-20 and under-21 level, has been a standout performer for Lazio so far this season. In 27 appearances […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-04-12 15:56:00

Brazil Head Coach Dunga feels it is unfair on Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson to compare him to fellow countryman Neymar and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 21 year-old, who has been capped by the Seleção at under-17, under-20 and under-21 level, has been a standout performer for Lazio so far this season.

In 27 appearances in all competitions, he has managed ten goals and nine assists, while his directness and ability to be a difference maker in the final third has led to comparisons with Neymar and Ronaldo.

For Dunga however, such suggestions will not aide Anderson’s development and he believes it would be best to let him grow without added pressure.

“He should be left along and not compared to Cristiano Ronaldo,” he told Tuttosport, as reported by website Football Italia.

“Ronaldo has scored everywhere and has more goals than games, whereas the Brazilian in young and if doesn’t net for three or four matches, this comparison can become a boomerang.

“He played for the Olympic team and didn’t perform to the same level as he did at Lazio, so people started asking themselves questions because they all expected three or four goals considering the clamour in Italy for him.

“There’s too much pressure comparing him to Neymar. He should be left to grow up in peace without too many expectations.”

Anderson was signed by Lazio from Santos for a reported fee of €7.5 million in July 2013. The Brasília native, who is nicknamed ‘O rato de Roma’, has been linked with the likes of Manchester United in recent months, but is now contracted to Lazio until June 2020.