New England Revolution assistant coach, Pablo Moreira has shed light on the club’s decision to sign Super Eagles midfielder, Alhassan Yusuf from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
Yusuf joined the MLS club during the summer transfer window, signing a contract that runs through 2027, with an option for an additional year.
Since his arrival, the Midfielder has already made a significant impact and played a crucial role in the team’s 1-0 victory over Nashville SC, a win that broke the club’s five-game winless streak.
New England Revolution central midfielder Alhassan Yusuf. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After the match Moreira praised the Nigerian midfielder’s performance.
“I think as more games go, you’re going to see him be more comfortable, “Moreira said, according to The Blazing Musket.
“But it’s what we saw, it’s why we wanted him here, and he’s just scratching the surface because, I said this last time, he’s got a world-class engine.”
Moreira further highlighted Yusuf’s extraordinary work ethic and athleticism.
“You don’t sneak into the Nigerian National Team without having a superhuman power, and that’s his.
“He’s just got an engine that he can go, and as you saw, he’s aggressive, he’s a little undersized, but you saw aerially, he wins balls. He’s connecting all his passes.”
Yusuf made his debut for Nigeria in a pre-AFCON friendly against Guinea in January 2024.
Recalling a standout performance during Royal Antwerp’s historic 3-2 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, where Yusuf provided a key assist, Moreira noted the midfielder’s quality.
Alejandro Balde battles for the ball with Alhassan Yusuf.(Photo by Fantasista/Getty Images)
“If anyone has any questions about Yusuf, there’s a game that we all saw—it was against Barcelona, and to me, he was man of the match,” he added.
Since his debut for Nigeria, Yusuf has earned Seven caps, and he was called up for the AFCON qualifiers in September, replacing the injured Bright Osayi-Samuel.
With his recent form, Yusuf hopes to catch the attention of Austin Eguavoen ahead of the upcoming double-header against Libya, aiming for significant playing time.
