Jhon Duran was a controversial figure during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old decided to leave Aston Villa for Al Nassr in a deal worth 77 million euros. Many critics argued that the Colombian striker was overly motivated by money, potentially jeopardizing his blossoming career at just 21.
Jhon Duran sets Saudi Arabia ablaze with his incredible form (Photo: Getty).
However, Jhon Duran is determined to prove otherwise. He has set high ambitions to succeed in Saudi Arabia, and his recent performances reflect that commitment.
The 2003-born forward has only played two matches for Al Nassr against Al Fayha and Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Yet, he has already overshadowed C.Ronaldo in both games, scoring an impressive four goals (two per match).
In last night’s game against Al Ahli, Al Nassr faced a tough situation when Mohamed Simakan was sent off in the 47th minute. By the middle of the second half, coach Stefano Pioli had to make a difficult decision: substitute either C.Ronaldo or Jhon Duran to protect the lead.
C.Ronaldo fades as Jhon Duran takes center stage (Photo: Saudi League Pro).
Ultimately, the Italian tactician opted to trust the young Colombian. The decision proved wise as Duran single-handedly carried Al Nassr’s attack. In the 88th minute, he scored to make it 3-1, sealing Al Ahli’s fate.
C.Ronaldo had a quiet game, touching the ball only 22 times, completing 80% of his passes (12/15), dribbling past one opponent, and losing possession four times. Clearly, Jhon Duran represents Al Nassr’s future as CR7 increasingly feels the weight of age.
Social media buzzed with excitement over Jhon Duran’s stellar debut. Many fans claimed that if the Colombian prodigy had joined earlier, Al Nassr might be challenging Al Hilal and Al Ittihad for the league title. Regardless, Jhon Duran will undoubtedly be a key weapon for Al Nassr in their quest for the AFC Champions League this season.
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