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Player in Training.
Udogie's Tottenham rise under Postecoglou as Spalletti drops Italy debut hint
Destiny Udogie could potentially make his senior Italy debut against Malta on Saturday evening after a stunning start to his Tottenham career under Ange Postecoglou
Saturday, October 14, 2023, could prove to be a momentous day in Destiny Udogie's career following his maiden Italy call-up. Outstanding for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham since linking up with the team for the first time after his season on loan with Udinese last campaign, his place in Luciano Spalletti's Italy squad is richly deserved.
Udogie was perhaps extremely unlucky not to be included in the Azzurri squad for Spalletti's first games in charge in September following Roberto Mancini's resignation a month earlier. The attack-minded left-back gave the 64-year-old no option but to give him the nod for the latest international break, though, after flourishing in Postecoglou's high-flying Spurs side.
Udogie could have perhaps made the senior squad last campaign having wowed for Udinese, yet he instead had to settle for a spot with the Under-21s as Mancini looked elsewhere for his left-sided options. Now part of their plans for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers, Malta are first up in Bari on Saturday evening before they travel to Wembley to take on England three days later.
That game against the Three Lions could potentially see Tottenham Italian pair Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario come against club teammate James Maddison, who after the win over Luton Town last weekend opened up on the influential duo.
“Vic is very composed. Nothing really fazes him. It was his birthday today. We didn’t know until the gaffer mentioned afterward," explained Spurs' No.10. “He’s a young man still to be fair, 27 is still young for a goalkeeper. But he has the composure of a 30-year-old and an experienced, senior Premier League player. So he’s been brilliant.
“Destiny is just a beast, man. He’s so good. When I talk about learning and adapting with the manager’s new style, him playing inside is not natural to him. He’s still working on that himself.
“He’s actually better on the ball and he can take the ball and dribble in the middle of the pitch and open it up for us. He’s got good receiving skills and he’s so powerful and so good."
It is no surprise that Udogie has come to the attention of Spalletti after making an incredible start to his Tottenham career. Foreign players usually need a period of adaption to get used to the pace and intensity of the Premier League but Udogie has taken to England's top flight with ease.
The Verona-born player already looks right at home and has delivered some devastating displays, just as Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski did after also making the move from Italy at the beginning of 2022. Udogie may be operating as a left-back for Postecoglou but it is in an attacking sense where he has really caught the eye. Given licence to push upfield due to the head coach's football philosophy, the Italian can often be found playing inside as Spurs' full-backs move into central areas and also in very attacking positions in the final third.
Udogie, who is also defensively sound, has two assists to his name from eight games so far this campaign and those numbers will only continue to grow due to his role in the side. It also won't be long at all until he opens his Tottenham goal account going on the positions he takes up.
Showcasing in Serie A just how good he is going forward, Postecoglou has taken the player's game to a whole new level. That, as a result, is benefitting Tottenham right now and it will also be the case in the years ahead.
The next target on Udogie's wishlist will be to make his senior bow for his country. That could very well come later on Saturday when Group C basement boys Malta visit Stadio San Nicola.
However, Udogie has a real challenge for the left-back role from Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco. The 25-year-old has been a regular for his country over the past 18 months after starring for his club.
Operating as a left wing-back for Inter, Dimarco and Udogie are both very similar in terms of that they love to attack and contribute in the final third. So far this term, Dimarco has one goal and three assists to his name from nine games in all competitions.
Even if Dimarco does get the green light from Spalletti to start at left-back, there is the possibility that Udogie could take up a slightly different position against Malta. Speaking to the media on Friday, the new Italy head coach discussed Udogie's attacking role at Tottenham and dropped a hint over a potential positional switch due to his versatility.
"We have five natural midfielders and Udogie, who is playing in midfield in the Premier League and possesses the kind of physicality that could come in handy," he said, as reported by the Italian national team's official website.
Whether or not Udogie makes his senior Italy debut against Malta or not, it does seem like it will only be a matter of time before Spalletti lets him loose on the international stage. The player has demonstrated in the opening months of the 2023/24 season that he is going to be a star for club and country for years to come.
USspur
Player in Training.
ClemFandango
Lord High Chief of the Privvy
Apparently he had a very good game.
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Yes, he was good as usual. A bit lucky not to concede a penalty, but still good. I really think he's going to be a superstar.
ClemFandango
Lord High Chief of the Privvy
Now I feel old ..
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Yid
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
To think "Cunté" and "That Cunt" constantly sent him out on loan and couldn't get a fucking tune out of him...
One of the best young players in the Premier League...
One of the best young players in the Premier League...
spurious
Player in Training.
Motherfucker was at the head of the spear multiple times on Sunday! And popping headers out of our own box. And providing options for Davies.
Might have been working with the groundskeeper during the week, doing scouting analysis for Lange, budget projections for Danny Boy, and who knows what else.
Might have been working with the groundskeeper during the week, doing scouting analysis for Lange, budget projections for Danny Boy, and who knows what else.
Yid
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Mate they're both fabulous (I have a penchant for that word of late). Porro is top class... There's easily over £100m in fullbacks between them... Reminds me of the Tripper/Walker glory days...
Those pair were deployed differently of course but just as effective.
Style And Glory
On My High Trojan Horse
That length of contract is quite the statement by both parties.
Dorset
The Voice Of Reason
Founding Member
Udogie is one of the best signings we’ve made for yonks, and Porro and Maddison and Van de Ven and Vicario and ( not yet but he will be) Johnson. Fucking blimey, when did we get so good at signing players? If only that daft cunt Levy had held on to Foyth, no, that is done, fuck that, the now and the future is what matters. When all our players are fit, we will have a mega-team that can beat anyone, even with all the injuries and suspensions we have shown in the last two matches how good we are under a proper Spursy manager.
Yid
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Mate... The also-rans... Also started running... Pier, GLC, Skippy... IMO they've become January Transfer funds to squad players now. Their commitment has been rewarded with confidence.
For them that may not be enough and they want more first team football, but I think they'd get more of it now, as Ange can trust them to jump on the field 70 mins in to shore up or change a game...
For them that may not be enough and they want more first team football, but I think they'd get more of it now, as Ange can trust them to jump on the field 70 mins in to shore up or change a game...
Dorset
The Voice Of Reason
Founding Member
Don't forget the bloke you couldn't see 'cos you didn't go to Specsavers like I fecking told you to - little Bryan. Davies has been good as well, Solomon will probably be good when he's fixed...... and Fat'Bele could be back in January if Galatasaray don't want to keep him. Sadly I don't think Sessegnon will ever be the star I thought he might, his legs are more iffy that his majesty the King's.
Yid
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Nope, dunno who ya on about...!!!
ClemFandango
Lord High Chief of the Privvy
Fuck
www.bbc.com
Tottenham's Udogie's season over through injury - BBC Sport
Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie is ruled out of the final weeks of the Premier League season through injury.
www.bbc.com J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Goddammit. But saying that, I have full faith in Ben Davies. Can’t Dragusin play there too?
ClemFandango
Lord High Chief of the Privvy
Dragusin is right footed so I'm not sure if he can cover. While Davies hasn't got Udogie's pace, I'm sure he'll be fine as well.
Yid
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Means the centre halves will have to cover for him when defending and when going forward we won't have the same quality either...
Big miss, especially for the derby.
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Ah yes, of course. I knew he’d played FB on one side or the other. Ange isn’t going to alter what we do too much, but wouldn’t be surprised to see Davies play the position with a little more caution.
BrooklynYid
Player in Training.
This is a big blow. Davies is really a better at CB at this point, but he'll be fine. Will take a monumental effort to get top 4 at this point. Brutal fixtures ahead.
spurious
Player in Training.
Ben has always performed admirably when called upon, but he'll need help against Saka. Might be a shout to put Richie on the left to help out. Son up the middle and both Bissouma and Bentancur to wrangle Martinelli and the other wankers. Not so worried about crosses, but those short passes around the box could kill us dead.
The Cryptkeeper
The Aussie Yid
Udogie has been awful for a while now and looks like he needed a break. The injury is not ideal but he was completely gassed which is understandable for a young player.
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Just announced he'll be missing the Euros. Very bad news for a young player, especially as qualifying for international tournaments isn't exactly a foregone conclusion for the Italians lately.