Overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of an acquisition like USA international and Champions League midfielder Weston McKennie, it would be easy to forget Diogo Monteiro’s arrival. The Portugal youth international comes in to bolster Leeds United’s under-21 ranks initially, but like another recent arrival from Switzerland, we know how quickly some young players can progress.
LeedsLive spoke to two people who have watched Swiss Super League closely for a number of years and asked them a few questions about the former Servette defender. Oliver Zesiger is a scout and video game Football Manager’s head researcher for Switzerland, while Giacomo Notari is editor-in-chief of Geneva football website Proxifoot and a former co-host of podcast The Swiss Football Show.
What was your initial reaction when you saw this link between Monteiro and a Premier League club?
OZ: It was about time transfer rumours were coming. He is a known prospect, a 30-plus cap Portuguese youth international and has played some senior football.
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Knowing Swiss football very well, these are the types of players who usually attract interest first. It was also known he wanted to leave last year, but it didn't work out.
The fact he's able to go to a Premier League club is surprising, though. He might need a loan move to adapt to a higher level, once he's adapted to the English game. The step up from Swiss youth football to the Premier League is obviously huge.
GN: It was a surprise it was an English club because when we heard rumours in recent years about a transfer for Monteiro, they were more related to Portuguese clubs (Porto, Sporting), but seeing him finally go to a foreign club is not surprising.
Monteiro has not played a lot for Servette, but what are your thoughts on him based on what you have seen? What strengths and weaknesses have you seen?
OZ: He's an elegant defender, one who is very skilled on the ball. He can pick a teammate with a diagonal ball or a line-breaking pass.
Defensively, he's solid and has good positioning. He's not the strongest athletically, especially when it comes to his quickness, or in the air.
Those are points in which he can improve, but we're talking about a recently-turned 18-year-old player who has many years of development ahead of him. Premier League 2 will be good for the phase of adaptation to a new country, but afterwards he needs senior football to grow.
GN: He is a defender who shows great maturity for his age, it is no coincidence he is outclassed (played in the age groups above himself) with the hopes of Portugal. He is good in placement, anticipation and has good passing quality. He can still improve in terms of aggression, especially in a league like the Premier League.
What has been the tone of analysis around him in Switzerland? Has he been talked up as a prospect set for the biggest clubs in Europe or has it been lower-key than that?
OZ: In scouting circles, he was highly regarded. However, to the general public, he was largely unknown. The thing with Switzerland is, due to having four national languages, the Swiss-German people don't always follow what the French speakers do and vice versa.
Plus, being surrounded by Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, a lot of interest is diverted to these leagues. Hardcore football fans knew his name, but the general public didn't.
GN: Outside of Geneva, people didn't talk a lot about Monteiro. He didn't have huge national exposure, as he mostly played with Servette's under-21s rather than the first team, and in the Portuguese rather than the Swiss national team. He wasn't yet a reference to his position among the mainstream ‘talent’ I would say.
Is he ready for senior football now? Should Servette have used him more? Will he need a lot of time to acclimatise before Leeds could consider him for the Premier League?
OZ: In my eye, he's not ready for first-team football yet. He needs seasoning, especially in terms of his physical attributes.
His on-the-ball play is at a high level already. He'd need at least six months to adapt to life in England and I believe Premier League 2 is not the best place to develop youngsters.
A loan move would be more beneficial, as the intensity in professional leagues is higher than with the under-21s. I don't rule out he'd be ready for the first team next summer, but it's rather unlikely. Give him 18 months and go from there.
As for Servette, they are among the oldest teams in the Swiss Super League. They could have used him more to prevent his departure. Although we don't know the conditions of the transfer, so it's unfair to state they should have used him more often.
GN: He is a very mature and intelligent youngster, who, once he adjusts to England, could be ready for the Premier League quickly. He will surely also want to prove his worth, especially since he has not had the opportunity often with Servette.
Servette could certainly have used him more, especially at the end of last season. Probably, the club was also putting pressure on Monteiro to renew.
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