Portuguese journalist Pedro Casteleiro has published a strong column praising João Palhinha’s impact at Tottenham, arguing that the midfielder has found the perfect stage to showcase his qualities once again.
The article, featured on A Bola, focuses on how the Tottenham loanee is thriving in his return to the Premier League, a league that seems tailor-made for his physical, combative style.
“Nobody tackles like him,” wrote Casteleiro. “João Palhinha was made for the Premier League.”
A full reset
The piece also underlines how Palhinha’s skill set suits Tottenham and the Premier League perfectly, but perhaps not so much the Bundesliga. The story reminds readers he struggled to adapt both on and off the pitch in Germany. Those difficulties, combined with personal issues he later acknowledged, explain why his Bayern spell never took off.
According to the journalist, “after a forgettable spell in Munich, the former Sporting player is once again performing at the highest level in this return to the Premier League.”
Palhinha has already scored three goals and registered one assist in 15 appearances, including a stunning bicycle kick earlier in the season. But his influence goes far beyond numbers.
“The trait that best defines him is his ability to tackle: to stop counterattacks, to clear danger and to cover the pitch,” Casteleiro noted, reminding readers that the midfielder leads the Premier League in tackles with 39.
Back to his best
“The truth is that João Palhinha is in excellent form again,” concluded Casteleiro. “Thomas Frank trusts him, and he has also returned to the plans of Roberto Martínez for Portugal. He played in three of the last four matches, and all of this comes in a World Cup year.”
Once again, Palhinha seems to have found the ideal environment to show what he does best. Breaking plays, leading transitions, and embodying the physical heart of English football.
Tottenham’s option to make his move permanent looks increasingly like more than just a possibility.