what is Malinovskyi really worth? 3 essential points to know

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Olympique de Marseille is about to register the reinforcement of midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi. Zoom on the profile of the Ukrainian international.

After the departure of Gerson, Olympique de Marseille offers a reinforcement of choice for its midfielder. The Marseille club is about to record the signing of Ruslan Malinovskyi. The Ukrainian international, who belongs to Atalanta Bergamo, should commit to OM in the form of a loan with a mandatory purchase option estimated at 10 million euros (and a €3m bonus under several conditions), according to reports confirmed by Gazzetta dello Sport. What is this versatile midfielder really worth?

Malinovskyi: Watch out, big hitter!

At the height of his 29 years, Ruslan Malinovskyi has established himself over the years as a safe bet in Serie A. The Ukrainian international is particularly renowned for his quality of strike. Endowed with an exceptional left foot, the attacking midfielder is used to making the powder speak on long-range shots. He represents a danger as soon as he opens an angle to arm a strike outside the surface. On set pieces, too, Malinovskyi was able to be decisive with Atalanta. An attribute that saw him sign two consecutive 10-goal seasons in Serie A – in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Valuable pass quality

In addition to his ability to score from afar, Ruslan Malinovskyi knows how to put on a passing costume, as his function calls it.. Able to play in a midfield three or in a more central position behind the attackers, the Ukrainian is a creative player, capable of speeding up the game with the pass. He can also be as impactful in the construction as in the last pass, where his precision and his foresight are recognized in Italy. Two years ago, in his most prolific campaign with the Dea, Malinovskyi tallied 13 assists in all competitions. With this reinforcement, OM will have an alternative to Dimitri Payet in creation.

A generous player who can respond to Tudor’s instructions

Igor Tudor’s requirement no longer needs to be demonstrated. Since his arrival in Marseille, the Croatian technician has defined a very clear collective framework, where the volume of the race and the work without the ball are extremely important. By betting on Ruslan Malinovskyi, Olympique de Marseille has certainly found a player capable of meeting these prerogatives.. Without being particularly athletic, the Ukrainian is used to counter-pressing when the ball is lost. He was a strong link in Gian Piero Gasperini’s device, which often allowed Atalanta to stifle his opponent by putting a strong intensity in the middle. It remains to be seen whether the new OM reinforcement will quickly acclimatize to Ligue 1, which is more physical and less tactical than Serie A.