Gary Onedaysoon
*Prediction Champion 20/21 & 21/22*
A positive review to kick off with -
Versatile, skilful, strong – Emerson Royal is modern right back who could thrill Spurs by Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero
Emerson Royal would have hoped to stay at Barcelona for longer. It was only earlier this month that he gave an interview to Diario Sport, the Catalan sports newspaper, in which he expressed how excited he was to be at the Nou Camp. “It’s difficult to put these emotions into words,” he said. “[When] you have a dream and it comes true, it’s incredible.”
That dream now looks to be a short-lived one. Emerson signed for Barça from Atlético Mineiro in January 2019, but the Brazilian right back spent his first two-and-a-half seasons in Spanish football at Real Betis as part of a deal between the three clubs. The Catalan giants exercised their right to buy Emerson outright this summer, meaning the 22-year-old only made his first start on Sunday in their 2-1 win against Getafe. He has played three times for them — with all appearances coming this season.
Now, in another twist in Barcelona’s strange transfer window, he has joined Tottenham Hotspur for £25.8 million. And yet, the Brazilian’s departure is no reflection of his quality. Nicknamed “Royal” by his aunt after the jelly brand of the same name’s cartoon mascot, the right back was outstanding last season as Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis side secured Europa League football.
Emerson’s attacking strengths were never in doubt at Betis. The Brazilian enjoys getting forward, scoring five goals and laying on ten in all competitions during his time in Seville. He showed Barça what he was capable of in a narrow 3-2 defeat last season, using his pace to hold off Jordi Alba before turning in a fine low cross for striker Borja Iglesias to finish. According to Opta, he created the sixth most chances including assists (33) and completed the joint-fifth most successful crosses (22) of any La Liga defender last season.
But it is in defence where Emerson has improved the most since arriving in Spain. The right back’s strong physique and tireless work-rate make him a difficult one-on-one opponent as well as an attacking threat. He made 91 tackles and 61 interceptions last season, the second and fourth-most of any La Liga defender and a significant increase on figures of 74 and 31 from his first full campaign at Betis.
Comparisons with Dani Alves were inevitable at Barça — Emerson made his full Brazil debut in 2019 and featured for his national side at the Copa América this summer. But the 22-year-old is not as technically gifted as his more illustrious compatriot. That is perhaps partly why the Catalans decided to offload him this summer, with the US international Sergiño Dest and academy graduate Sergi Roberto both in their ranks. Barça’s woeful financial situation also dictates that they were likely to sell Emerson if presented with a reasonable offer.
Still, Spurs are signing a hugely promising defender and a modern full back who showed his capacity to learn at Betis. While Emerson has tended to play as a right back in a back four, he can also play as a right wing back in a back five.
“I became very confident,” he said of his adaptation to life at Betis in that interview with Diario Sport. “I came from Brazil, from a completely different style of football, and needed to adapt quickly [to La Liga] because the team were in desperate need of a right back. I needed to learn Spanish quickly in order to understand my team-mates and the coach. It was difficult at first, but the experience forced me to grow as a person and as an athlete.”
Emerson will need all of that confidence to make the transition from Catalonia to north London, having barely arrived in Barcelona. Given how he has coped with the changes in his career, one expects he will be up to the challenge.
Versatile, skilful, strong – Emerson Royal is modern right back who could thrill Spurs by Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero
Emerson Royal would have hoped to stay at Barcelona for longer. It was only earlier this month that he gave an interview to Diario Sport, the Catalan sports newspaper, in which he expressed how excited he was to be at the Nou Camp. “It’s difficult to put these emotions into words,” he said. “[When] you have a dream and it comes true, it’s incredible.”
That dream now looks to be a short-lived one. Emerson signed for Barça from Atlético Mineiro in January 2019, but the Brazilian right back spent his first two-and-a-half seasons in Spanish football at Real Betis as part of a deal between the three clubs. The Catalan giants exercised their right to buy Emerson outright this summer, meaning the 22-year-old only made his first start on Sunday in their 2-1 win against Getafe. He has played three times for them — with all appearances coming this season.
Now, in another twist in Barcelona’s strange transfer window, he has joined Tottenham Hotspur for £25.8 million. And yet, the Brazilian’s departure is no reflection of his quality. Nicknamed “Royal” by his aunt after the jelly brand of the same name’s cartoon mascot, the right back was outstanding last season as Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis side secured Europa League football.
Emerson’s attacking strengths were never in doubt at Betis. The Brazilian enjoys getting forward, scoring five goals and laying on ten in all competitions during his time in Seville. He showed Barça what he was capable of in a narrow 3-2 defeat last season, using his pace to hold off Jordi Alba before turning in a fine low cross for striker Borja Iglesias to finish. According to Opta, he created the sixth most chances including assists (33) and completed the joint-fifth most successful crosses (22) of any La Liga defender last season.
But it is in defence where Emerson has improved the most since arriving in Spain. The right back’s strong physique and tireless work-rate make him a difficult one-on-one opponent as well as an attacking threat. He made 91 tackles and 61 interceptions last season, the second and fourth-most of any La Liga defender and a significant increase on figures of 74 and 31 from his first full campaign at Betis.
Comparisons with Dani Alves were inevitable at Barça — Emerson made his full Brazil debut in 2019 and featured for his national side at the Copa América this summer. But the 22-year-old is not as technically gifted as his more illustrious compatriot. That is perhaps partly why the Catalans decided to offload him this summer, with the US international Sergiño Dest and academy graduate Sergi Roberto both in their ranks. Barça’s woeful financial situation also dictates that they were likely to sell Emerson if presented with a reasonable offer.
Still, Spurs are signing a hugely promising defender and a modern full back who showed his capacity to learn at Betis. While Emerson has tended to play as a right back in a back four, he can also play as a right wing back in a back five.
“I became very confident,” he said of his adaptation to life at Betis in that interview with Diario Sport. “I came from Brazil, from a completely different style of football, and needed to adapt quickly [to La Liga] because the team were in desperate need of a right back. I needed to learn Spanish quickly in order to understand my team-mates and the coach. It was difficult at first, but the experience forced me to grow as a person and as an athlete.”
Emerson will need all of that confidence to make the transition from Catalonia to north London, having barely arrived in Barcelona. Given how he has coped with the changes in his career, one expects he will be up to the challenge.
