Cristiano Ronaldo had already chosen Andre Silva as his successor, but he couldn’t cope with the high expectations for a long time. At Eintracht Frankfurt, the striker is now the undisputed key player and bearer of hope in the cup duel with Bayer Leverkusen (8.45 p.m. in LIVETICKER).
Cristiano Ronaldo’s universe is all about Cristiano Ronaldo. It was all the more a knighthood for Andre Silva when the five-time world footballer named him his legitimate successor in the national team.
“If I step down, Portugal will be in good hands, because the team has already found a great striker: Andre Silva,” said Ronaldo in the summer of 2017 about the then 21-year-old, who shortly afterwards from FC Porto for a proud 38 million euros AC Milan moved.
The way for a world career was paved, but Portugal’s storm hope could not cope with the high expectations for a long time. After a year in Milan, I went on loan to FC Sevilla, then back to Milan and straight to Eintracht Frankfurt – and there Silva has finally found his luck. The now 25-year-old has developed into one of the most dangerous attackers in the Bundesliga.
“He’s the sole holder in front. He just does it really well,” enthused Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter after the 2-0 win at FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. The Portuguese scored both goals from the penalty spot, which led Hütter to special praise. “The sovereignty on penalties reminds me of Robert Lewandowski,” said the Austrian. After all, it was Silva’s eighth penalty converted in his eighth attempt since joining the SGE.
Andre Silva: Only Haaland and Lewandowski in better shape
And there they were again, the comparisons with the greatest of his trade. But Silva really doesn’t have to hide from them at the moment. Since the restart after the Corona interruption in May, he has been in excellent shape, his eleven goals in the current Bundesliga season are only exceeded by Erling Haaland (12) and world footballer Lewandowski (20).
“He has made it into the Bundesliga completely, he works very hard, that might not have been the case before,” said Frankfurt’s sports director Fredi Bobic recently about his star striker. Silva is fast, technically skilled, strong on dribbling and finishing, and with his 1.85 m also a good header player – simply an all-rounder.
Frankfurt’s dependence on Silva: is Bavaria’s Zirkzee coming?
At the same time, however, there is also a dangerous dependency, because after the departure of Bas Dost to Club Bruges, Silva is the only fit center forward in Hessen. The long-injured young attacker Ragnar Ache still needs time, so a backup should be required in winter.
Many names are traded for it, but the task is difficult. The loan from Bayern youngster Joshua Zirkzee, which has been in the room for a long time, is dragging on, a return of Real Madrid’s bench press Luka Jovic is financially unmanageable even via loan deal. The ex-Frankfurt Cenk Tosun from Everton FC would be an alternative.
Sports director Bobic still has just under three weeks – and until then, Silva just has to continue to inspire as a solo entertainer.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s top scorer in the 2020/21 season
| Rang | player | Tore |
| 1 | Andre Silva | 11 |
| 2 | Bas dost | 4 |
| 3 | Daichi Kamada | 2 |
| 4 | Aymen Barkok | 2 |
| 5 | Stefan Ilsanker | 1 |
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