Aberdeen boss Barry Robson is confident Dante Polvara will make such a huge impact in 2024 a “lot of people will be talking about him.”
American midfielder Polvara netted twice in the Dons’ Europa Conference League group campaign – against Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK.
Robson reckons the 23-year-old, contracted to the Dons until summer 2026, will become a major asset for Aberdeen.
The Reds beat off competition from Premiership Hibs, as well as clubs in the USA, Italy and Germany and Italy to sign Polvara.
He arrived at Pittodrie in January 2022, but failed to command a regular first-team starting slot under former bosses Stephen Glass and Jim Goodwin.
Polvara has been a revelation this season under Robson, who has shown faith in the New York-born midfielder in high-pressure games.
Robson insists it is only the tip of the iceberg in Polvara’s rise at Pittodrie.
He said: “Dante will be one in the next year to 18 months where a lot of people will be talking about him.
“Tactically, he gets it – and Dante scores goals.
“You see on the pitch how structured he is and the way he can perform with two feet.
“Dante will be a real asset for this club and just needs time.”
‘When I first came into the job, I watched Dante in training and he was lighting it up’
The midfielder arrived at Pittodrie from Georgetown University just days after receiving the 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy.
Awarded to the best college player in the United States, it is the most prestigious individual honour an NCAA Division 1 player can achieve.
However, first-team action was limited under previous managers Glass and Goodwin, and he had made just 11 competitive appearances for the Reds, with only five starts, prior to this season.
Robson replaced the axed Goodwin, initially on an interim basis, in late January last year and Polvara immediately impressed him.
He said: “When I first came into the job, I watched Dante in training, and thought: ‘What’s this?
“Six foot three, he can run, is good with both feet and was lighting it up in training.
“Dante was really lighting it up.”
Robson was reluctant at loan move
In March last year, Robson reluctantly sent Polvara on a five-month loan at Charleston Battery in the USL Championship in the United States.
He maintained regular contact with the midfielder to assess his progress.
Polvara was a key player at Charleston and helped them move to the top of the Eastern Conference table.
The midfielder made 18 starts in all competitions for Charleston, scoring once and providing two assists.
He then returned to the Granite City for pre-season training with the Dons.
Robson explained: “Dante wanted to go away on loan because for whatever reason it never worked previously for him here.
“But I saw something in him, a talent and drive.
“So I reluctantly let him go on loan and said: ‘Just be back for pre-season and show what you’ve got.’
“I actually tried to keep him here and put him on loan to a club close by so I could keep an eye on him.
“But he wanted to go back (to the United States).
“He always sat in my mind, and I thought: ‘That kid is not going anywhere.'”
‘I trusted him in some big games in Europe’
On his return to Pittodrie for the start of the season, Polvara again impressed Robson.
In September last year, the Dons boss secured the midfielder on a three-year-contract extension until summer 2026.
Polvara has repaid that faith by displaying a knack for scoring impressive goals in big games.
Robson pitched Polvara in from the start in the Europa Conference League Group G-opener against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany – he responded by netting a superb volley to level in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Bundesliga giants.
Polvara also scored to put the Reds 2-0 up against eventual Group G winners PAOK at Pittodrie – before a late collapse led to a 3-2 loss after he had been subbed off.
A great team move, finished off by Dante Polvara for his first ever Dons goal 🇺🇸#StandFree | #UECL pic.twitter.com/tguMWmJDZc
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) September 23, 2023
Robson said: “Dante’s loan was huge for him.
“He is a good footballer and does the right things at the right times.
“And I trusted him in some big games in Europe.”
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