Billy Gilmour has been likened to Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante.
This is after he delivered a Player of the Match performance in his first-ever senior international start as Scotland drew 0-0 with England at Wembley on Friday night.
Although he didn’t play the full 90 minutes – having been subbed 14 minutes from time – Gilmour barely put a foot wrong as he dictated play in the midfield. The 20-year-old played with a maturity well beyond his years.
He ended the game with a 91% passing accuracy, and he has deservedly been applauded by a number of big names in football, including the likes of former Tottenham and Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho.
Current players have also sung Gilmour’s praises, and Crystal Palace defender Patrick Van Aanholt, has even made a huge claim on Twitter.
Van Aanholt, who’s already qualified to the round of 16 after two victories in a row for the Netherlands, said: “Fair play Scotland, them tribal games hit differently. Billy Gilmour was basically N’Golo Kante.”
Kante, who is also at Euro 2020 with tournament favourites France, has been tipped by many to be in with a shout of winning the Ballon d’Or this year after his instrumental role in Chelsea’s Champions League winning run.
So, Gilmour can’t exactly be disappointed by being compared to a player like him.
Whilst the Scotsman’s performance captured attention from all over Europe, he’ll be secretly hoping that his club manager, Thomas Tuchel, was watching closely.
Gilmour was used sporadically by the German last campaign, and it is said that Chelsea are looking to strengthen their squad this summer, with a midfielder, as well as a right-sided defender and striker, their top priorities in the transfer market.
However, Chelsea fans – and of course, Van Aanholt - will be wondering why there’s even a need to sign someone when the club have already got a ready-made ‘Kante-esque’ player on the books.
