Since his arrival from Atalanta Bergamo this winter, Ruslan Malinovskyi has lacked consistency. However, he still has the confidence of his coach and his leaders.
Photo credits: Anthony Dibon/IconSport
During the last winter transfer window, Olympique de Marseille had achieved a big blow by buying the last year of Ruslan Malinovskyi’s contract from Atalanta for 13 million euros, in the form of a loan with compulsory purchase option . The Ukrainian (52 caps, 7 goals) has shown the full extent of his talent in Serie A, notably with 30 goals scored under the colors of the Dea in 143 matches in all competitions. In 2021, he was even the best passer in the Italian championship.
His first months in Marseille are so far mixed, even if the Ukrainian will be judged more next season. In a press conference, his coach Igor Tudor also renewed his confidence in him: “He’s a player we wanted, because he has good technical quality and a fantastic mentality, he understands the soccerdetails the Croatian technician. Of course, there is pressure, every player needs to adapt, especially because he comes from the Italian championship. Coming to big clubs has consequences. But I believe in him, for his football, but also his human qualities.”
Former teammate raves about Malinovskyi
His former partner at Atalanta, Andrea Masiello, also has faith in him, as he told The Team this Saturday : “Ruslan is one of the best players we have known at Atalanta, and as with Ilicic or Papu Gomez, other technically very superior profiles, Mister Gasperini asked him to make a lot of sacrificesremembers the Italian. Thanks to this experience, he has an important background in terms of work, effort, ability to adapt to different situations during the match. He’s already got it all. With Tudor, it will necessarily be simpler, you will see.”
Since signing for Ligue 1, Malinovskyi has played 19 games in all competitions for OM and scored 2 goals.
