Former Club Brugge midfielder Ruud Vormer has shared his insights on rising star Raphael Onyedika, commending the young midfielder's impressive natural strength and promising potential.
However, the 36-year-old also pointed out the importance of refining certain aspects of his game, particularly in tackling situations.
The 23-year-old received a red card during Club Brugge's 1-3 defeat to AC Milan in a UEFA Champions League match last Tuesday, just five minutes before halftime. The Nigerian midfielder made a tackle that almost resulted in a serious injury to Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.
This red card marked the 23-year-old's second dismissal in 12 games, having received another red just three days earlier in a league match against Westerlo.
Vormer offers constructive criticism of Onyedika's tackling approach
Vormer, in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws reported by Voetbalprimeur, stressed the importance of Onyedika approaching duels with greater intelligence. He suggested that while the young midfielder's tenacity is commendable, adopting a smarter strategy could significantly enhance his performance on the pitch.
“It is true that those mistakes urgently need to be removed. We are looking for solutions together for when he gets into a similar situation again,” he said.
“Did we teach him how to tackle? Something like that, yes. He is an impressive guy, who has a lot of natural strength,” continued Vormer.
“Then you shouldn't always go into a tackle for the full 100 percent. I'm not saying that he needs to change his game, but he needs to go into a duel a little bit smarter.”
Vormer made 254 appearances for the Belgian champions, scoring 52 goals from 2014 to 2023. During his nine-year tenure with the club, he secured five Belgian Pro League titles, one Belgian Cup, and one Belgian Super Cup, solidifying his legacy as a key player in Club Brugge's history.
This season, Onyedika has made 12 appearances for his club, contributing two assists and averaging 69 minutes of play per game.
