Bet on Cole and co: Win big backing Brits playing abroad
Published:
Ashley Cole has lamented his countrymen by claiming English players are too afraid to leave their comfort zones and play abroad.
The former-Chelsea left back took a considerable pay cut to sign for Serie A outfit Roma, showing exactly the sort of determination Arsenal fans longed for all those years ago.
Cole is not the only Brit abroad this season though and Ladbrokes News is of the opinion that our lads can fly the flag in their respective leagues and land some silverware.
Backing Cole’s Roma for the Scudetto, Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid for La Liga and Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon, who boast two top young British talents, is definitely worth an outright or each-way punt at tempting odds of 53/1.
Roma to win Serie A @ 11/4
Cole may have taken a hit in the pocket but the former England star looks just as greedy as ever when it comes to trophies.
With more FA Cup winner medals than any other player, Cole knows what it takes to succeed and with Roma finishing second in Italy last year and champions Juventus potentially losing valuable squad members – not to mention manager Antonio Conte’s departure – it could be the capital club that triumphs.
Influential Juve players Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba are the subject of much transfer speculation and with Conte stepping down and Massimiliano Alleggri an unpopular replacement it could be advantage Roma.
With Champions Atletico losing star man Diego Costa to Chelsea the Spanish top flight is again expected to be a two-horse race.
Barcelona may have snapped up Luis Suarez but his ban will limit his influence while Madrid look set to add Toni Kroos to a team already boasting Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to name but a few.
Madrid’s Champions League success shows this team is capable of great things so don’t be surprised to see Wales’ finest lifting the league title this year.
Sporting Lisbon to win Primeira Liga @ 7/1
The outside bet of the three having not won the title since 2002 Sporting also represent the best value.
The Lisbon outfit boast two of Britain’s biggest prospects in Ryan Gauld and Eric Dier. 18-year-old Scot Gauld arrived from Dundee United for £3m but instantly had a €60m buy-out clause inserted into his contract, such is the expectation that he will succeed.
Dier, who moved to Portugal aged 12, was wanted by Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham before signing a long-term deal with Sporting and at 20-years-of-age is ready to make a real impact on the first team.
A second-place finish last term shows Sporting are on the right track and with Benfica and Porto likely to lose first choice players Lisbon could capitalise this year.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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