Gary Neville has said that Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi will become a fantastic player. Neville managed Mustafi while the pair were at Valencia last season and said that the German has all the attributes to become a top player (via The Metro).
Gary Neville’s managerial career may not have got off to the best of starts at Valencia. The former Manchester United defender was sacked after just a few months in charge after that humiliating 7-0 defeat to FC Barcelona. Now the pundit has spoken about one of his former players and current Arsenal defender, Shkodran Mustafi.
“Mustafi has got an incredible amount of natural ability and talent, good physical capability,” Neville said at the New York Red Bull Street Style event in London this week, “I think with age and maturity he will grow into being a fantastic defender.
“He’s got all the attributes you would want. Defenders will mature with age and I think he will get better and better.”
Neville obviously didn’t have the best experience at Valencia. The former right back lost 11 of his 28 matches during his four months in charge of the La Liga side but said that the poor run didn’t affect Mustafi’s work ethic.
“In Valencia, it was a very difficult season for us all, including myself obviously, yet he was still there every day, he was still competing, he was still determined and committed and that’s all you can ask for in a player.”
Mustafi has started life at the Emirates very well. He has formed a solid partnership with Laurent Koscielny and is still yet to actually lose a match for Arsenal. The German is still young and like Neville said, has all the attributes needed to become a top defender.