Diarra Will Make Real Madrid Better - Metgod

Lassana Diarra has been touted as a great signing for Real Madrid by his former coach at Portsmouth, John Metgod.

The Dutchman joined Tony Adams' backroom team in November and has subsequently worked at closed quarters with the French midfielder.

Metgod is also acquainted with life in the Bernabeu pressure-cooker, having spent two years as a player for los Meremgues in the 1980s.

He believes that Diarra will not simply be a replacement for his Malian namesake, Mahamadou, but will add a new dimension to an already star-studded midfield.

Metgod told AS: "The Diarra of Madrid is a very strong guy. Lassana is very small and plays the ball well.

"He passes well both long and short and has very good vision. He is very intelligent and knows very well how he has to play.

"He is very technical. He uses the ball very well and he doesn't lose it much. He is going to be the player who remains very close to the centre-backs.

"Him, next to Sneijder and Guti, will form a great central midfield.

"Madrid have not made a mistake with him, although you have to recognise that he is not like Van der Vaart or Sneijder, who are always looking to score."

Peter Staunton, Goal.com



Rolfe leads inspired Fire effort
Real Madrid To Hook Portsmouth’s Diarra?
OFFICIAL: Real Madrid Recall Dani Parejo
RSL, Morales agree to extension