Rio Ferdinand’s five players to watch in the Champions League

According to Standard Sport’s new Champions League columnist Rio Ferdinand. Chelsea loanee Andreas Christensen could be one the key performers in Europe this season

Former Red Devils and England defender Ferdinand will be dishing out his expert opinion on the Champions League for Standard Sport during the 2016/17 campaign.

To start off he’s fingered Chelsea centre-back Christiansen, who is currently out on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach – as one of the players he is looking forward to watching.

However, Christensen is only just one of Ferdinand’s ‘Players to watching out for in the Champions League’, and below we kick off Rio Ferdinand’s five players to watch in the Champions League with…

5 . Edinson Cavani (PSG)

It will be interesting to see what Edinson Cavani does now that he has got his wish to become the first-choice striker at PSG.

He has talked about it a lot in recent seasons but didn’t have the opportunity to lead the line because of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Now that Ibrahimovic has joined Manchester United, the question is can Cavani take his chance.

4.Andreas Christensen (Gladbach)

I have heard a lot of good things about Andreas Christensen and also watched him a few times when he was a youth player at Chelsea. He is an exciting centre-half and a good footballer, too

He has had to go on loan to get regular football and has done really well at Borussia Monchengladbach. I’m looking forward to see what he’s like on this stage.

3.Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Renato Sanches is a real powerhouse in midfield. Manchester United were interested in him but he ended up at Bayern Munich.

He is only 19, yet already has a European Championships winners’ medal having been an integral member of the Portugal side this summer. He can only get better and better.

2.Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)

Everyone knows about Barcelona’s talented attacking players but it is Samuel Umtiti, signed from Lyon in the summer, who I will be keeping a close eye on.

The defender is still young but has arrived at the Nou Camp following a very good Euros. He looked comfortable for France, can he look as assured in a Barcelona shirt?

1.Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Paulo Dybala is a great striker, someone I think will go on to bigger and better things having helped Juventus win the domestic double last season.

There is a strong possibility he will attract big bids from clubs in Spain and England in the next couple of years. Juve will hope he gets the goals to ensure they go far in this competition.

So there we have it Rio Ferdinand’s five players to watch in the Champions League, what did you think? who would you have in your five players to watch in the Champions League?

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