LThe expectation that the signing of Fernando Llorente for Eibar has aroused is something that had never been experienced before in Ipurua. Logical. It is the first time that the Eibar team has managed to have a world champion in its ranks. Two ex-gunmen like Silva and Xabi Alonso were also part of that team that touched the sky 11 years ago in South Africa, but when they wore the Barça shirt they were still unknown to a large part of football fans.
Llorente arrives at Eibar at the age of 36, in the final stage of his sports career, but that does not mean that he will land in Ipurua to enjoy an early retirement. Quite the opposite. Due to its ambition and overwhelming mentality, there are many arguments to think that it is a bet on a winning horse. Because Llorente is the striker that any team in the category (and many of the First), would like to have on their squad. But it is that, in addition, the game of the Eibar comes to him like ring to the finger to the Rioja.
Like a glove
Throughout its history, the Basque team has performed better with wingspan forwards than mobile rams and with speed. The attackers who dominate the aerial game, who handle the game with their backs to the goal and who are key to oxygenate the game on long displacements match perfectly with the style of this Eibar. Aspects of the game that are precisely some of Llorente’s great virtues.
Eibar has acquired a striker who fixes like few to the centrals, something I know they can benefit everyone who plays around them. But Llorente is also an area striker, practically unstoppable in the aerial game that Eibar exploits so much, either with lateral centers or with balls in lengths from behind, and that can also be a perfect complement when the ball is on the ground and you need a player who plays with his back and holds the ball.
Work that in recent days has been carried out to perfection White Leschuk. The Argentine gave a recital of what an Eibar forward has to do against Cartagena. Winning countless duels over the top of rival defenses, holding the ball with his back to the goal and being a constant threat every time the ball was overlooked in the area. Llorente is all that, but also easily sees the door. As soon as he gets in shape, Garitano has a diamond in the rough.
Job guarantee … something non-negotiable
Llorente is a guarantee of work, something non-negotiable in Eibar even for the player who acts more advanced, and he will not have to take too long to adapt to the style of the team because he is doing great. And inside the dressing room he will not have too many problems either. A simple guy off the field who fits into the armory family, where anyone who comes new needs little time to join the group. In addition, it has old acquaintances such as Etxeita or Aketxe that will facilitate its adaptation.
Definitely, a masterful move by César Palacios in every way. And it is that Gaizka Garitano will not have to modify the style of play to fit Llorente into the team because Eibar’s game is ideal for the ‘9’ to exploit all his qualities. In Ipurua they already count the days that remain to be able to see him in action dressed with the Barcelona elastic. We will still have to wait, but the Llorente-Eibar marriage looks very good.
