Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has explained why the excitement around new signing Amadou Onana is high, and what he believes the midfielder's best qualities are.
The Blues confirmed their fifth signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday with the arrival of the 20-year-old from Lille to bolster their options in the centre of the pitch. The new addition was at Goodison Park at the weekend to watch his future teammates play against Chelsea, taking multiple pictures with supporters that evening too.
Martinez, now the manager of the Belgium national team, gave Onana his full debut at international level over the summer. Speaking to Sky Sports he explained the potential of Everton's new midfielder and particularly highlighted the leadership and maturity that he possesses despite still being at a young age.
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He said: "He's a really exciting footballer. I know sometimes when we talk about players it's difficult to measure their potential, but we're talking about a 20-year-old boy who's probably one of the most talented young players at that age in European football.
"That's how excited we are in Belgium. He's someone who's already played in two major leagues, in Germany and France, he joined Lille for a big fee already. He's got the physicality and the presence of a player Everton fans know very well in Marouane Fellaini, but then on the pitch he's still developing and he can become anything in that central area.
"I can understand the excitement around Everton. This is one of the most exciting prospects in European football at this time. It would be a shame if we speak only about his technical and tactical abilities, I think this footballer is quite unique in the way he is as a character.
"He's a leader who, already as a young man, has affected the others in the dressing room. He's a player who knows exactly what he wants, he's chosen Everton and the Premier League, he wants to make a massive impact and grow with the club.
"That's probably the most impressive aspect of his game - the way that he talks, the way he becomes a coach on the pitch, and has got this incredible maturity that's not normal to have at such a young age. The manager at Everton can use him in a more defensive role or as a box-to-box where he can really use his physicality on the ball.
"Sometimes he reminds you of a young Patrick Vieira in the way that he can drive with the ball, but he's a young player so you're still talking about potential. But what's already there is the leadership and the captain material that he brings to Everton."
Onana, in his first interview with the club, highlighted Frank Lampard's influence in his decision to come to Everton. And, Martinez believes that both manager and player will be able to work together in the future to realise the 20-year-old's potential.
"I think Amadou as a young player, he made his own decision on where to go. I think the conversation with Frank Lampard was a very significant and important one," he added.
"Amadou is someone who wants to develop, wants to grow and I'm sure that relationship with the manager and being able to talk in a very direct way has been a massive pull. I know Amadou has already gone into the history of the club and is looking to the times that Everton were winning titles and I think that's the first thing he wanted, to see Everton winning titles again.
"I think that's a wonderful young character in the perfect moment of the club, with a manager who will be able to speak the specifics of a position he's mastered."
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