Enzo Maresca proven right over World Cup star as ‘tactical magpie’ tipped for Premier League return

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been vindicated in his views on one of Portugal’s 2026 World Cup stars.

Villarreal’s Renato Veiga made his major tournament debut in his country’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo and European football expert Andy Brassell expects him to make a big impact this summer.

Veiga left Chelsea last summer for £26mGetty

During their short time together at Stamford Bridge, Maresca highlighted the defender’s tactical flexibility – and he has turned into more than just a centre-back, his preferred role.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Brassell shared his thoughts on a potential return to England for the 22-year-old.

He said: “Renato Veiga promises to be one of the real revelations of this World Cup. And what a journey it’s been for him to get here.

“At 22 years old, he’s already played in his native Portugal, in Switzerland, in Germany, in Italy and of course in England with Chelsea before arriving in Spain with Villarreal, where he’s been absolutely outstanding this season and one of the best defenders in the whole league as Villarreal got themselves into third place and returned to the Champions League.

“Now, I guess there will be people out there asking, ‘Why hasn’t he made a splash at Chelsea? Why didn’t he get a go at Chelsea?’.

“I think Chelsea always saw him as collateral, to be honest. But I think when you look at him physically, he’s someone who should be a great Premier League centre-back.”

Another summer transfer?

Brassell went on to point out how, as a Villarreal player, Veiga ought to be relatively attainable at this moment in time.

He continued: “And look, he’s at Villarreal – he’s not un-gettable. Maybe he will be at some point in the future as well. But he’s someone who’s 6’3”, an absolute prince on the ball; he looks all class with that left foot, doesn’t really give the ball away much; he’s really good at bringing the ball out of defence as well…”

One of the most impressive aspects of Veiga’s development has been his demonstrable ability to perform a variety of roles.

Brassell noted:“And of course, he wasn’t always a centre-back as well. He was a defensive midfielder when he first started out in the academy at Sporting back in his hometown of Lisbon.

Veiga featured in Portugal’s World Cup openerGetty

“And that is a really good testament to why he’s so good with the ball at his feet – because if they put him back in defensive midfield now, he’d look like a defensive midfielder.

“He wouldn’t look like a defender playing in defensive midfield, which I think is quite an important definition.

“But in an age where you want your centre-backs to be better on the ball, where you want your centre-backs to defend by keeping and circulating the ball on a lot of occasions, I think that gives him an extra level and an extra level of versatility.”

Brassell doesn’t expect Veiga to be in any haste to move on from Villarreal, but he thinks he would take seamlessly to Premier League football, stressing he has “everything that can make him a great Premier League centre-back”.

If Veiga is to make his way back to the English top flight, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world to see him end up at Manchester City.

With fellow centre-back John Stones leaving the club this summer and Maresca edging towards succeeding Pep Guardiola in the Etihad Stadium dugout, it could be a match made in heaven.

World Cup WhatsApp

Don't miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.

Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.

It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings.

Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.