In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez praised the exceptional season of Vitinha (24, midfielder) and Nuno Mendes (22, left-back) at Paris Saint-Germain. He compared Vitinha (25-year-old midfielder) to the great Spanish midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta, and described Nuno Mendes (22-year-old left-back) as an almost “perfect” player.
Martinez “He’s the best left-back I’ve ever seen”.
“Vitinha is the style of player we’re used to in Spain, because Xavi or Iniesta created this kind of midfield.
Nuno Mendes
He’s the best left-back I’ve ever seen. We’re talking about a player who can defend one-on-one, who can play as a central defender, on the flank, inside. He’s very quick, an excellent finisher and has great passing ability. I thought the perfect player didn’t exist, but the truth is that Nuno Mendes is very close.”
Nuno Mendes and Vitinha form a key duo for Paris Saint-Germain this season. Mendes, hailed for his versatility and speed, excels in both defense and attack, combining rigor and efficiency, as he did in the Nations League, where he shone.
Vitinha, for his part, embodies the technical and intelligent midfielder heir to the Spanish style, capable of setting the tempo and controlling play under pressure. Their complementarity, between defensive solidity and creativity, has greatly contributed to PSG’s success, making them two essential pillars of the club and the Portuguese national team.
