
27m
I can cope with losing Suarez if we pick up this star-in-waiting for half the fee.
Is he Superman?Yes. Muriel 's gonna save the muthafucking world.
Watched this lad a few times last season.
He's the nuts.
Strong,quick and a lethal finisher.
Ignoring the comparisons with players, the conversion rate alone is pretty impressive.The 22-year old returned to the Stadio Friuli last summer after a successful loan spell with Lecce and picked up the Serie A Young Player of the Year award for 2012 along with Stephan El Shaarawy. In doing so he became the first Udinese player to receive the award since its inception in 1997 despite the aforementioned wealth of young stars that the Bianconeri have boasted.
Muriel is a rapid forward whose technique and ability on the ball has drawn comparisons to fellow South American and Serie A star Ronaldo. Indeed, up to now it seems bemusing that more concrete interest from across Europe - given the number of clubs that are seemingly in search of a striker - has not been lodged in the Colombian, despite his agents claims that his client is content in Udine.
Having made just 22 Serie A appearances last season, Muriel's goal tally of 11 was impressive. He netted 10 of those goals in just 15 starts, picking up 3 assists in the process and ended the season in fantastic fashion, scoring 5 goals in his last 6 appearances.
His strikes, unlike many young forwards trying to impress, came from a modest number of shots at goal (41). In turn, his chance conversion rate of 26.8% ranked a superb 9th of the 125 players in Europe's top 5 leagues to net 10 or more goals last season. That figure was way in advance of Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani (18.6%) who has just joined PSG for the fourth highest transfer fee in history.
A shot accuracy of 43.9% is less impressive but still the equivalent of Ligue 1's leading marksman Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season, and when he did hit the target his powerful efforts proved unstoppable more often than not. Indeed, of the same 125 goalscorers only three were able to better Muriel's exceptional on target conversion rate of 61.1% - two places ahead of Lionel Messi in this regard.
It's clear that the Colombian's finishing is up to scratch but his game is much more than that of a goal poacher. He does very little of his work in the box, more often than not offering an electric outlet on the counter and his ability with the ball at his feet is aided by an impressive upper body strength as he's able to hold off or outmuscle opponents.
He can look to do it all himself at times, with only ten Serie A players embarking on more dribbles per game than the Udinese man (5.4), but having completed 2.3 per game on average he was way ahead of any teammate. Meanwhile, his WhoScored rating of 7.20 from last season was the fourth best at the club despite playing a bit part in the first half of the campaign. When you exclude substitute appearances that average rises to 7.44, which was only bettered by the offloaded Benatia last season.
In terms of weaknesses, Muriel could perhaps develop his work rate when it comes to his defensive contribution, having averaged just 0.6 tackles and 0.2 interceptions per game last season. Elsewhere he isn't particularly strong in terms of aerial duels but he's more of a second striker than a target man, so that much is understandable.
Although there is certainly room for improvement in his all round game, Muriel only turned 22 in April and this is clearly a player with a bright future. Where that future lies remains to be seen, but if Udinese's transfer policy is anything to go by, it may be away from the Stadio Friuli sooner rather than later.
Billy Liddell @Liddellpool
40m#LFC are preparing a move for striker Luis Muirel according to reports from Italy.
You'll be waiting a while/foreverI SAID "CONCRETE MUTHA FUCKING EVIDENCE" !
I SAID "CONCRETE MUTHA FUCKING EVIDENCE" !
Bernard and Muriel would make a great couple.
You'll be waiting a while/forever
And Billy Liddell is dead
And Billy Liddell is dead