The defender made space for himself in Cagliari, despite injuries, and aims to convince Lorenzo.
Yerry Mina with the Colombian National Team.
Photo: EFE
By:
Futbolred Editorial
May 5, 2024, 05:02 p.m. m.
Yerry Mina’s body has been, in recent years, his biggest obstacle. Injuries became his karma and he has been paying the cost at the club and in the Colombian National Team, where those who previously stood in line behind him now seem to surpass him.
The Colombian has been fighting, at Everton, at Fiorentina and even at Cagliari, his current club, to once and for all overcome the muscular problems that afflict him and that mean that, just when he recovers his level and returns in an undisputed role, has to be absent.
The story has many chapters – more than I would like – but when it comes to discussion it is difficult to deny the obvious: whenever he is available he performs, he delivers, he makes an effort and he makes himself necessary for his people. This has been recognized by coach Claudio Ranieri himself, who recognizes the authority of the Colombian and how much he is missed, in both areas, when he is not there.
A test was experienced this weekend: the Caucano suffered a muscle strain in training and his team, which came from creditable draws against Juventus and Inter, both 2-2, lost 3-0 against Genoa. And just this Sunday, in the return against Lecce, he reappeared with a goal and good work, in a duel in which his team worked too long with ten men and the victory escaped them at the end.
In this match his numbers were incontestable: 9 clearances, 4 recoveries, 1 takeaway and 12 of 12 duels won. A rating of 7.8 shows his weight in the team, which he played with 10 from the 44th minute.
Enough for the Colombian National Team?
The situation in his club is very clear: his team grows with him on the field, his leadership and even his mischief to get his rivals out of concentration is already his hallmark and when it comes to the results it is indisputable that it was vital to secure the position. 15 with 32 units and save the category.
But, is it enough to have him back in the Colombian National Team? Depends. Whose? From the interlocutor. For hundreds of fans on social networks there is no way to touch Lucumí and Cuesta as starting centre-backs, their performance and youth suggest that they are medium and long-term bets.
For Néstor Lorenzo there is no reason to doubt a World Cup player, an experienced player like few others, an obvious asset in the aerial game and a constant threat. He called him before when he didn’t even play due to physical problems and surely, if he is healthy, he will call him again. The problem today is Lucumí, the young people who have also known how to take advantage of his opportunity and have displaced him and Dávinson by dint of physical deployment and European school.
Will Mina return to the National Team, after the last friendlies that she missed due to injury. It should be her only priority. Everything else is network debates.
