'More of a box-to-box midfielder' - Agent reveals Man City product Dele-Bashiru sees Yaya Toure as role model

Italian agent Maxime Juca-Parent has drawn a comparison between Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Manchester City icon Yaya Toure.

Juca-Parent, who was among the intermediaries that brokered the deal that took the Super Eagles star to Lazio, described him as a box-to-box player with qualities reminiscent of the Ivory Coast legend.

Fisayo and his elder brother Tom Dele-Bashiru spent the formative years of their careers at the Manchester City academy before moving onto pastures new, and it is not surprising that the Nigeria national teamer has named Toure as his role model, having observed him at close quarters for several years. 

In an interview with Gianlucadimarzio via Tuttomercatoweb, Juca-Parent characterized Dele-Bashiru as a reserved yet cheerful individual, whom he followed his career journey to Turkey, where he played for Hatayspor.

"He is a calm person, a bit reserved at first and always very smiling," he said.

“I discovered Fizzy at Sheffield Wednesday and then I followed him to Turkey."

The agent revealed that his efforts to secure a move to Lazio began in September 2023.

"I got in touch with the boy and his agent a year ago and started working to bring him to Italy."

"I wanted to make him known in Italian football. That's how our journey began in the first days of September 2023," he explained.

Juca-Parent believed Lazio provided the ideal environment for Dele-Bashiru’s growth, working closely with the club for five months before finalizing the transfer.

"In the months that followed, I thought that the perfect place for him would be Lazio."

"We worked with the club for almost five months before arriving at his transfer. So, if Dele-Bashiru is in Rome today, it's all thanks to this collaboration with the boy's agent."

"Lazio is suitable for his growth path. Arriving at Lazio at this age and with his qualities I think that the team will allow him to acquire a lot of maturity and improve on a tactical level. 

"The club allows him to have a great margin of progress and he is giving Lazio the right thanks by playing as he did yesterday."

Highlighting Dele-Bashiru's strengths, Juca-Parent stated, "Speed and power are certainly his main qualities. Then he has impressive physical potential. On a technical level, he knows how to use both feet, he has a good touch of the ball and a powerful shot."

He further described Dele-Bashiru as a versatile box-to-box midfielder who can also play just behind the striker, similar to Toure.

"He is more of a box-to-box midfielder. He takes Yaya Touré as an example. He is the kind of player who can also play under the striker, as they are making him play at Lazio at the start of this championship. 

"Dele, then, knows how to adapt to every role in midfield and also to the team's playing philosophy."

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: sslazio.it

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