Joe Cole has questioned Chelsea’s decision to allow Tino Livramento to leave – and claims the full-back would get into Enzo Maresca’s current starting XI.
A breakdown in contract talks saw Livramento depart Chelsea’s academy for Southampton in 2021, with the Saints seeing off strong competition from Brighton, AC Milan and RB Leipzig to sign the defender.
Livramento quickly established himself as a first-team regular at St Mary’s and his outstanding performances caught the attention of Newcastle, who captured the 22-year-old for a fee of £32million – plus £8m in add-ons – two years ago.
In that time, Livramento has gone from strength under the tutelage of Eddie Howe and the youngster played a key role last season as the Magpies finally ended their 70-year wait for a major trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup.
To cap off a memorable few months, Livramento added another piece of silverware to his collection on Saturday as the England Under-21 side successfully defended their European Championship title with a 3-2 victory over Germany in Bratislava.
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The right-back – who has been capped once at senior level – was subsequently named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament, along with five of his fellow countrymen in James Beadle, Charlie Cresswell, Elliot Anderson, James McAtee and Harvey Elliott.
‘I watched him throughout the tournament and I coached him a few times at Chelsea. He was coming through when I was there,’ ex-Chelsea and England winger Cole said of Livramento on The Dressing Room Podcast.
‘He’s a lovely lad, great ability. I remember doing a session with him on crossing and I was just trying to break down the three different crosses you would do.
‘He had everything: big, powerful, great skill, great attitude.
‘I was like, “Once you get to the byline you’ve only got three options: you’ve got the dink to far post, you whip it across or you cut it back”, and he did it on both sides, left and right.’
Cole is unsure whether the new recruits Chelsea have brought in recent years have been an upgrade on ‘top players’ like Livramento and Lewis Hall, who left Stamford Bridge for Newcastle last year.
He added: ‘When we talk about the new model at Chelsea and we praise them… you’ve still lost Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, another top player.
‘I don’t know how much money but they’ve gone out. Are the ones coming in [better]?
‘Tino Livramento would get in Chelsea’s team now I think.’
According to Cole, Livramento would have had a strong case for the Player of the Tournament award had it not been for Elliott’s heroics across England’s triumphant campaign.
‘He [Livramento] was absolutely brilliant,’ he continued.
‘If it wasn’t for Harvey Elliott getting Player of the Tournament, he could have been in the running for it.’
Cole’s namesake, Ashley Cole, who was on Lee Carsley’s coaching staff at the U21 European Championship, has been similarly impressed and tipped Livramento for a ‘beautiful future’ last month.
‘He was in the U21s, in the reserve group at Chelsea. You always see the passion and level he could get to,’ the legendary ex-Chelsea, Arsenal and England left-back said.
‘I think him getting the opportunity at Newcastle and continuing to play first-team football gave him the belief, the confidence in his own ability.
‘And of course, a manager that’s trusted him to play at such a young age. I think he had quite a big challenge going to Newcastle, but he’s developing into a top player.
‘I think he’s got a beautiful future, a bright future. Long may it continue that he keeps playing for Newcastle, keeps gaining experience and keeps his levels up.’
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