Andros Townsend wowed by Everton-linked Goncalo Ramos after bid lined up for Portugal hat-trick hero
Everton winger Andros Townsend heaped praise on Goncalo Ramos after he scored a hat-trick on his first-ever start for Portugal this week.
Ramos was thrown into action against Switzerland on Tuesday evening by manager Fernando Santos, after he decided to drop Cristiano Ronaldo from his lineup. The 21-year-old repaid Santos’ faith in him by netting a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition.
Ramos, who has scored nine goals in 11 league matches for Benfica this season, was linked with a move to Goodison Park in the summer with Portuguese outlet Record reporting that the Toffees were lining up a bid for the talented youngster.
Townsend watched on as the summer Everton target shone in Qatar and heaped praise on him in his latest column for The Mirror (9 Dec, Pg 63).
“I can’t tell you the pressure he would have been under to come in and replace Cristiano Ronaldo,” wrote Townsend.
“If it didn’t go well, it would have been his fault and the manager’s fault. So to not only play well, but score a hat-trick? Honestly, he’s definitely catapulted himself onto the world stage.”
Missed opportunity
Everton head into the January transfer window needing attacking reinforcements, and it’s incredibly frustrating to see a summer target shine on the biggest stage knowing he could have been wearing blue this season.
In fairness, Everton were one of a handful of clubs chasing the Portuguese talent in the summer, and none of them would’ve expected the Benfica marksman to experience the high-profile breakthrough that he did this week.
Annoyingly, Ramos’ price will now inevitably skyrocket and Europe’s biggest clubs will all be circling for his signature. Everton may as well give up all hope of seeing him at Goodison Park.
But the Toffees still need to go and find another talented striker in January, and if the club’s scouts identified Ramos then hopefully they can sniff out another hidden gem to join Frank Lampard’s squad.
For now, though, Evertonians will just have to daydream about what could have been when Ramos likely takes to the pitch for Portugal again this weekend.