Rui Patricio

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Rui Pedro dos Santos Patricio





Current Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Previous Clubs: Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Loan Clubs: N/A.





International: Portugal 87 caps.

Trophies Won: European Championships 2016. Portugese League Cup 2017/18. Portugese Super Cup 2009, 2016. Portugese Cup 2008, 2015. UEFA Nations League 2019.





Patricio is a solid, dependable modern day keeper. While most keepers you can pick out major aspects of their game that are a weakness, Patricio does not seem to have those issues. His all-round game is very good, though he does lack any particular facet of his game that is particularly outstanding.



One thing that does stand out is that he makes very few mistakes, there are always mistakes as all humans make them, but he tends to make less than most. He is comfortable on the ball, like a modern day keeper has to be and fully capable of launching counter-attacks with both a kick or a throw, with both he is usually accurate.



The Portugese is also a good shotstopper, quick off his line when he needs to be to close down an onrushing forward and usually well positioned. When dealing with high balls played in, he is clear and leaves no doubt in his defenders' minds as to what he intends to do.



Added to that, Patricio tends to claim the ball very comfortably, looking quite happy to catch balls that are there to be caught, rather than opting always for the punch like some tend to do. All in all, he is a competent, reliable keeper of the kind that gives a team confidence and allows a team to play with more freedom.



All that begs the question of why he was not snapped up by a richer team long before he joined Wolves, as he is clearly one of the better keepers in the world. I can only think that it is because Patricio is solid and unspectacular, just concentrating on doing his job well, rather than looking good for the cameras, that has seem him be overlooked in the past.





Requested by - Deependra