A Beginner’s Guide to Diego Carlos
Right, it’s time to catch-up on some of these new Aston Villa signings that have sneaked in prior to the transfer window opening next week.
Before we do any deep-diving though, let’s get everyone up to scratch with the brass tacks skinny guide of Villa’s signings, by fielding the FIVE ‘W’s’ of the player.
Who are they, What are they about, Where will they fit at Villa, Why were they signed, and worries when they play in a Villa shirt?
Diego Carlos’s overhead kick in the UEFA Europa League Final vs Inter Milan
Diego Carlos – The 5 W’s
Who?
29-Year-old Brazilian centre-back who has played for Estoril, Nantes, and Sevilla. No caps for the senior Brazil team, but an Olympic Gold Medal winner like Douglas Luiz.
What?
From his time in Spain, Carlos is a physical defender, with a decent turn of pace, who is comfortable on the ball. At 6’1 his all-action style will add much-needed profile and physicality to the Villa squad.
Considering the transfer fee, Diego Carlos has been signed for the starting eleven for Aston Villa. With the recent injury and performance concerns over Ezri Konsa, Carlos and Tyronne Mings should be lining up in the first game of the season, injuries, and outgoings permitting.
Where?
While he’s played as a left-sided centre-back, lazy comparisons place him against Tyrone Mings, although he’s right-footed. Unless Mings is off (very unlikely), you would expect Carlos to line-up alongside him.
Why?
He’s a winner and was part of the best defence in La Liga last season. Sevilla only conceded 30 goals in 38 games. He’s also pretty robust on the injury front.
As well as an Olympic gold medal, winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 means he’s achieved something only Philippe Coutinho and Ashley Young have in this current squad by winning a major European trophy.
From the player’s POV, a big reason why he joined Villa, beyond a pay increase, were decent references from Villa’s Brazilian duo Coutinho and Douglas Luiz.
Carlos told the Club’s official website:-
“Yes, I know him, Douglas Luiz, from the Olympic Games. The two of us had the pleasure of winning the gold medal together and, Philippe Coutinho, in fact, I spoke to him on the phone, he congratulated me on being here and being with him.
I’m really happy about this, the two players are fantastic and, as I’ve said, when I see them we can start working together.
Coutinho, he is a phenomenon and a great footballer. To share the pitch with him, share the game with him, I think it will be fantastic.”
Worries?
There is a concern over his tackling, as in Sevilla’s Europa League triumph, he gave away penalties in the Quarter-Final, Semi-Final and Final. It’s contributed to a reputation in some camps, that he has a mistake in him ala Mings.
That said, Carlos was only cautioned three times last season in La Liga, with one of these being a second Yellow.
Compare that with the Villa duo of Konsa and Mings, who racked up 16 yellows between them, with a second yellow and a straight red for Konsa and a couple of rash tackles don’t seem that bad.
UTV
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