According to Fabrizio Romano, Al Nassr are in the race to sign Samu Costa and, at first glance, I find it difficult to like the idea.
I have already spoken about Brozović’s departure and this potential transfer would almost be a direct replacement, but Samu Costa does not do what Brozović used to do. Samu is a good defensive midfielder, a tank, who brings a level of solidity that Al Nassr have been lacking for several seasons, partly because of Brozović himself. But that raises an obvious question: who is going to take on Brozović’s essential role?
Against deep defensive blocks, someone has to take control of the game, stay calm, be patient, dictate the tempo and keep the ball moving. Samu definitely does not do that, and right now I do not see anyone in the Al Nassr squad capable of doing it to a high standard.
Of course, every manager has their own ideas and does not have to copy the previous one, but if something was working, why change it so much? That is the feeling I get.
My initial idea would be something different: Ângelo moving out of midfield to play on the right wing, Coman on the left, Mané being sold, and then bringing in someone with a profile much closer to Brozović’s to dictate the play. But that would already be a major change.
The problem is that, in this scenario, we are talking about a lot of changes in a short period of time, especially at such an early stage and with nothing official yet. We have to wait, but my point remains the same: I do not like the idea, at least for now.
Conclusion
Nothing is official yet, but if it happens, Al Nassr’s midfield will have to change.
You simply cannot make a straight swap between Brozović and Samu Costa. You just cannot, because Al Nassr will play the vast majority of their matches against teams sitting deep, and in those games you need someone who can control and dictate the play, not just someone who can break it up.