Some Derby County supporters have taken to Twitter to praise Patrick Roberts following his latest display and call for Wayne Rooney to try and re-sign him this summer.
Roberts joined Derby from Manchester City during the January transfer window.
Middlesbrough Neil Warnock praised Roberts despite a subdued loan spell at Boro earlier this season and predicted he would fit better with Derby’s style of play.
It took the tricky winger while to get going at Pride Park, but his latest performances are starting to show exactly why City once paid £12 million for his services.
Taking to Twitter after Derby’s 2-1 defeat at Blackburn, some Rams fans felt Roberts was their side’s best performer and is making a case to re-sign him this summer.
Stay up this season and I am genuinely positive for next. We do have some good players at the club already and if we add in the right areas we’ll be ok. Would love Roberts back at the club, special player. #dcfc
— Rob Allen (@allen_robert1) April 16, 2021
Roberts is the English Messi
— el don 🇪🇸 (@dcfc_don) April 16, 2021
Patrick Roberts 👌 – sign him on. Reminds me of Georgie Kinkladze … #dcfc
— Daniel (@danieltaylor30) April 16, 2021
What’s Roberts’ contract at city? Would love him permanently at Derby
— el don 🇪🇸 (@dcfc_don) April 16, 2021
#dcfc I know he can be frustrating but he’s out of contract in the summer get Roberts signed up. Dangerous player.
— Jshm (@jshmtn) April 16, 2021
Roberts and Lawrence on song are unplayable #dcfc
— Adrian Pacey (@AdrianPacey) April 16, 2021
Stay up and I’d snap your hand off for Patrick Roberts. Neat footballer and coach an end product and you’ve got some talent. #dcfc
— Andy (@sim__and) April 16, 2021
Roberts featured in a fluid front four including Kamil Jozwiak, Tom Lawrence and Louie Sibley and the interchanges between them often left Blackburn scrambling.
Lawrence deservedly gave Derby a first-half lead. However, Rovers hit back just before the break and went on to find a second-half winner through young loanee Harvey Elliott.
Roberts caused the hosts problems in possession throughout. He created two key chances, while one mazy dribble was reminiscent of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
A lack of a cutting edge, however, has been Derby’s problem throughout this season and they again were left to rue missed opportunities as they fell to a third straight defeat.
If Derby are to have any chance of re-signing Roberts this summer, then preserving their Championship status is imperative as the former Fulham man is levels above League One.
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