It sounds like royalty, but the play-off match between Barcelona and Napoli goes ahead on Thursday in the Europa League. Will Adama Traoré once again come into focus? Barça’s new signing has been delightful so far
Atletico’s Mario Hermoso and Espanyol’s Adria Pedrosa should know what Jürgen Klopp meant by now. The Liverpool coach once said of their counterparts that he was “at times simply impossible to defend”. The player in question was Adama Traoré.
In fact, you could feel sorry for the left-backs at times in the 4-2 win over Atletico and the recent 2-2 draw at Espanyol. Traoré dribbled, whirled, feinted. A shot deception here, a step-over there – the 26-year-old is a full-time job for every opponent. Pep Guardiola once called him “a motorbike. No one can handle his speed”.
But is the motorbike perhaps only well started? Will it run out of petrol at some point? One thing is certain: The loanee from Wolverhampton has been utterly convincing so far. And so far he’s been effective, he wasn’t always in the Premier League. Against Atletico in the 21st minute, he got on the ball briefly, followed by a body trick to the inside, then he darted along the touchline. Hermoso couldn’t get behind, and after the pinpoint cross Gavi headed in for 2:1.
He also picked up his assist for Espanyol. With 20 seconds left in stoppage time, Traoré crossed from halfway to Luuk de Jong, who headed in to make it 2-2. Just two of many strong scenes from the powerhouse with Malian roots.
But he feels at home in Barcelona. Probably one of the reasons why he had no problems adjusting. “I am very happy to return home after seven years,” said the Masia-trained attacker at his introduction at the beginning of February. “I will do everything to make the Catalans happy.” President Joan Laporta spoke of a “beautiful story” continuing between player and club. And of the option to buy, which they “want to take up. “
After all, Traoré was deemed too lightweight at the first attempt, and Barcelona sold the talent to Aston Villa for ten million euros in 2015. “Physically I have changed, I have more experience, learned a lot, but without losing the essence of Barça,” Traoré believes in his breakthrough in the second attempt.
Why Traoré rubs baby oil on himself
As much as Barcelona want to keep Traoré, his opponents are having a hard time doing so. Incidentally, this is also due to a trick that Mario Rui, Napoli’s left-back, will probably learn next: Before the game, Traoré smears his upper arms with baby oil. Not only does it shine beautifully, but it also prevents his opponents from being able to hold him after he has dribbled them out.
Aston Villa had already come up with this trick to make Traoré’s opponents literally roll off his back. A well-oiled motorbike.
