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‘I love this guy’: Pep Guardiola’s former assistant is ‘crazy’ about reported Newcastle January target
Pep Guardiola’s former trusted Manchester City lieutenant Juanma Lillo has lavished praise on England’s James Maddison.
Maddison was extensively linked with Newcastle in the summer and remains a target ahead of the January window opening.
Lillo has written an illuminating feature for the touching on a range of topics and he praised Maddison’s decision making and quality.
Lillo on Maddison
Lillo said: “For me, England and Portugal are the two teams with the biggest number of elite players in an age group that will also give them good chances in the future.
“One player I’m crazy about for England and hasn’t played at all — James Maddison. I love this guy, he excites me.
“He’s an authentic footballer, more of a street product than an academy product. He’s daring. He has nerve.
“A manager can tell him to do A, but if he believes B is the right option, he’ll do B. I just love this.
“Any idea that comes into James Maddison’s head is 100 times better than any idea you will find at any coaching conference.”
There was a huge clamour for Maddison to be included in England’s World Cup squad and Gareth Southgate put him in his final 26.
But he has not played yet in Qatar, missing the first two games through injury and not getting on in the 3-0 wins over Wales and Senegal.
The other wide players in the squad have all scored and are playing well so it will be hard for Maddison to force his way in.
But if tomorrow’s game with France goes to extra time, Southgate will get six substitutes and Maddison may just get a chance to make an impact.