Former Belgium international Franky Van der Elst offered a candid assessment of Raphael Onyedika’s performance and the impact of Ronny Deila, the former coach of Club Brugge.
The Nigerian midfielder delivered an impressive performance during Brugge's 0-3 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Van der Elst praised Onyedika's strength and skill under pressure, criticised Deila's failure to recognise his potential, a fact that, in his estimation, impacted the player's transfer valuation.
Deila sparked Raphael Onyedika market value decline?
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Van der Elst highlighted how Raphael Onyedika’s strong performances were overlooked under Deila, leading to a significant drop in his transfer value.
He remarked, “He often had two, three or even four men around him when he had the ball, but he always came out of it. He is strong in the duels, took a lot of balls, intercepted a lot of them too.”
“Last season was a bit less, because Ronny Deila apparently didn’t see it in him. Yes. That was a mistake by Deila.
“I see that Onyedika's market value was 13 million euros before Deila arrived. When he left, it had dropped to 10 million euros. So he cost the club three million.”
Following Deila's departure, Club Brugge secured the Jupiler Pro League title last season, with Raphael Onyedika playing a pivotal role, especially during the play-offs.
The Nigerian scored three vital goals after Deila’s exit in March 2024, contributing significantly to the club's triumph.
Onyedika has maintained his excellent form this season, drawing commendation from Nicky Hayen, Deila's replacement, for his standout performance against Borussia Dortmund.
