Praise for John Duran 'You need to deliver two devastating blows'

Fenerbahce's young striker Jhon Duran not being selected for the Colombian national team has become a topic of debate in his country. Despite his successful performance at Fenerbahce, discussions have arisen about whether the player will have another chance to wear the national team jersey. One of those who spoke on the subject was Teófilo Gutiérrez, who once played for Trabzonspor in our country.

Speaking on a podcast called Control Directo, Teofilo Gutierrez dismissed the criticism levelled at Duran. The 40-year-old experienced footballer, who continues his career at his country's Junior FC club, emphasised that Duran is one of the best players and possesses world-class talent with his goal-scoring abilities.

Gutiérrez explained that despite experiencing problems in his career at the clubs he played for, he was always considered for call-ups, and that when he played for the Colombian national team, he always had a different attitude towards playing and representing his country.

"John Duran is a very talented footballer. He has returned to Europe. He is one of our best number 9s. He has a confident and assertive character. You need to give such young players a couple of sharp slaps (laughing). You need to motivate and understand young people. He may think he is the best in the world, even if others don't say so, but I think Duran is a great player."

In addition to what he said about Teófilo Gutiérrez Durán, the former Aston Villa and Al-Nassr striker explained that Durán must possess determination and discipline to return to the Colombian national team, and that he has all the necessary qualities for this:

‘This lad knows he can't afford to make any more mistakes, but he's a brilliant player with huge potential, he's played in Europe. We just need to give him a few firm words, that's all.’ He also explained that the controversies surrounding Duran were not the result of deliberate behaviour, but rather a natural part of his personality.