Myles was Paddy whacked last time he faced Roberts but my Samurai will cut Celt down to size this time
EXCLUSIVE Beerman’s old gaffer says kid won’t crumble in cup crunch SCOTTISH CUP
MYLES BEERMAN was Paddy whacked the last time he faced Celtic wing wizard Patrick Roberts.
But his boss that day insists the Rangers kid will be better prepared if they meet again at Hampden on Sunday.
Roberts scored two and set up another as a star-studded England side beat Beerman’s Maltese minnows 3-0 at the 2014 European Under-17 Championship.
Despite Roberts teaching a raw 15-year-old and his team-mates a harsh lesson coach Sergio Soldano earmarked Beerman as a future star.
Now the Argentine, who calls the 18-year-old “Samurai” because of his fearless nature, would love to see the left-back get another crack against his former Manchester City team-mate in the Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.
He said: “Myles was almost three years younger than some of his opponents but his ability and personality allowed him to compete at such an elite level without any problems.
“It was a great tactical and technical jump for him to face players who were more advanced such as Patrick. He’d also have learned at Manchester City by that stage.
“Patrick played so well in that tournament. He was similar in style to Myles but was much more attacking and a goal threat. But it won’t be a problem for Myles playing in such a big game with so many fans as that is when his personality comes out.
“My nickname for him when we were together with Malta was ‘Samurai’ because he is always ready to do battle. He is such a strong character who will do everything to win.
“Myles has had almost five years’ experience since then so he will have learned a lot in that time. He has also had a change of club and even that experience will have helped him.
“He has all the ingredients to become a great player but you need a great head to be a star.
“Him and Patrick have great qualities – if you could mix the two you would have Gareth Bale.”
Beerman has filled Rangers’ left-back void this month in the absence of injured skipper Lee Wallace.
And Soldano isn’t surprised to see the youngster making a name for himself after promoting him to his Under-17 team.
Soldano, a former talent spotter for Parma and Inter Milan, said: “He came with us to play in a youth tournament in Rome. There were scouts from many Italian clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan and Roma as well as others like Real Madrid and Liverpool.
“Myles picked up an award for the most technical player of the tournament and Genoa, Milan and Juventus all asked me what his situation was because they were interested. But I had to tell them he was a Man City player and couldn’t move.
“Myles can play anywhere on the left side but is most effective as a winger. His dribbling and crossing is excellent and the British game will suit him perfectly. He reminded me very much of Stephan El Shaarawy who is now at Roma but who I spotted when he was 12 years old playing for a small club near to where I lived in Italy.
“I recommended him to Genoa who took him on and then he went to Milan. Myles has many things in common with him – his dribbling, passing, change of pace and vision. Myles did well leaving Malta to get to Man City because he joined a top club. “He had a bigger determination to succeed than other players in Malta at the same age. That is why he has succeeded and he is now being rewarded. When he played with players two years older than him he was already prepared to leave the island of Malta and look for a different future. And that’s what happened. “It is fantastic for him to go to Glasgow Rangers because it will help his career. I remember Rino Gattuso playing for Salernitana and moving to Rangers helped him develop some fighting qualities before returning to Italy. “Myles now has that same opportunity if he is successful.”
SERGIO SOLDANO