Adama Traore has joined Middlesbrough after a disappointing spell with Aston Villa. He only featured ten times in the Premier League last season, all of which came as a substitute. It was a tough start to his career in England as the environment at Villa wasn’t suited to young players. However, he remains highly rated and Aitor Karanka will know that he is worth the risk.
He arrived last summer for £7 million and was expected to play a big part, but he wasn’t given a real chance when he was fit and available. Throughout last season, Villa fans were wondering why Traore wasn’t given more game time, especially when exhibiting such raw and untapped potential when on the field, and he will be hoping for more opportunities at Middlesbrough.
Christian Stuani has been playing on the right in the last two league matches and has performed well. However, Traore is a natural winger and his arrival will excite Middlesbrough fans. He is direct, possesses plenty of pace and has the ability to beat players. Although he is a talent, his confidence will have taken a hit at Aston Villa and he will need time to rebuild it over the coming months.
Aitor Karanka has already helped Gaston Ramirez make an impact in England and he looks to be a good man manager. Traore is only 20 years of age, and has huge potential if managed correctly. That wasn’t the case at Aston Villa, which has set back his development, but he is still young and will benefit from playing in the settled environment at Middlesbrough.
The arrival of Traore spelt the end for Albert Adomah, who has gone the other way to Aston Villa, albeit in a separate deal. He was an important part of their promotion winning side and his departure has shocked some. It is clear that Karanka isn’t convinced about Adomah’s ability to influence matches in the Premier League.
It is an interesting decision from Middlesbrough as they have sold a player who had helped them get into the Premier League in order to sign Traore. Despite his failure at Villa, he is an exciting young player and there is the possibility of nurturing him into a Champions League player. Adomah was unlikely to develop, while Traore can be moulded into the player that Middlesbrough need on the wing.
Middlesbrough now have an exciting winger capable of producing moments of brilliance. His pace is a weapon the team doesn’t have at the moment with Stuani and Stewart Downing on the flanks. It is a big risk, but the potential rewards are enormous and Karanka will believe he can restart the youngster’s career.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the deadline day deal:
Middlesbrough fans thought it was a good move by the club:
https://twitter.com/jrs97_/status/770956566254280704
https://twitter.com/JackATaylor_/status/770944525044965376
Some weren’t so convinced:
Villa fans thought he should have been loaned out:
https://twitter.com/jords_mac/status/770958501183127552
Although they never really got the chance to see what he could do:
https://twitter.com/scruffysausage/status/770875178834362368
https://twitter.com/bruceamc_golf/status/770892387182899200
His injury record didn’t impress:
There is still hope that Traore will fulfil his potential:
https://twitter.com/rkelly93/status/770942291343183872
Featured image: All rights reserved by Francisco Javier Fernandez