There is no doubt today that Vitinha, the 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, is currently the best player in his position. Speaking to L’Equipe, Costinha, 50, former FC Porto and AS Monaco midfielder with 53 caps for Portugal, commented on his compatriot’s recent performances.
Costinha: “He knows how to move, find open spaces, compensate, and always knows how to keep the ball alive.”
“Talking about Vitinha immediately makes me think of the people in Porto back in the day who said, ‘He’s not physically strong enough, he won’t last.’ Vitinha’s greatest quality is his intelligence. He’s a very intelligent player.
He knows how to move, find open spaces, compensate, and always knows how to keep the ball alive. In terms of time management, I’ve rarely seen a player so intelligent. He always knows what the game requires.” And on top of that, he added goals to his repertoire; he needed that. It gives him a leadership dimension.
He’s one of the best midfielders in the world right now, without a doubt. I always struggle with comparisons, but he’s in the top five with players like Pedri, Neves, Barella, and Bellingham. There’s no one above him. And he can still improve, yes. Because every time he’s faced a challenge, he’s been so intelligent that he’s overcome it.
At only 25 years old, Vitinha has established himself over the last two seasons as the boss of the Parisian midfield. A true playmaker, he’s capable of taking control of the game, delivering assists, and also scoring, as was the case against Tottenham (5-3) this Wednesday in the Champions League.
Given his age, this means he still has room to grow. The experience he will gain will allow him to increase his confidence and therefore make even more decisions on the pitch. Overall, PSG has recruited a gem in Vitinha, who is also a key player for the Portuguese national team alongside his teammate João Neves.
