Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has hailed Dedryck Boyata as a “great defender” who was “immense” for Belgium at the World Cup.
Boyata played in all three of the Red Devils’ group stage matches in Russia with Vincent Kompany injured as the team went on to secure third place at the summer’s tournament.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound ahead of Scotland’s friendly against the Belgians on Friday night, Vertonghen shared how impressed he has been by the Celtic 27-year-old.
“He’s been with us for a while now. He’s a great defender. Very smart guy as well.
“He had a great World Cup. He played because of a couple of injuries but he had a great tournament and showed Belgium and the world how good a defender he is.
“He was immense for us in the World Cup.”
OPINION
Boyata became persona non grata among the Celtic support after trying to engineering a summer exit amid big-money interest from Fulham. But he has started to win the Parkhead faithful back over after returning to the team and has been their best player in the last two matches, including in last weekend’s Old Firm triumph. Boyata is nowhere near the class of Virgil van Dijk, who was achingly good during his two seasons in the green-and-white jersey, but he is the best centre-back currently available to Brendan Rodgers. Jozo Simunovic struggles to string consecutive appearances together, Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Hendry are hugely promising but raw, and the other central defenders are not quite ready for first-team action. Rodgers will be delighted that Boyata is back on board for the first half of the campaign, even if the suspicion remains that he will quit in the January transfer window.