Swedish Allsvenskan sensation Robbie Ure is already making an impact for Sevilla
On the basis of the raw statistics, Robbie Ure’s first match in LaLiga as a starting figure for Sevilla passed him by. Despite playing the full 90 minutes, the Scottish striker registered just 12 touches. He failed to fire off a single shot or even touch the ball inside the opposition penalty box. And yet Ure found other ways to make an impact.
Quite literally in the case of how Oso scored the opening goal in Sevilla’s 3-1 win over Athletic Club, pressing so hard that the 22-year-old slammed into opposition goalkeeper Unai Simón. The World Cup winner appealed for a foul, but the referee decided Ure closed him down fairly and the goal stood.
Before that, Ure’s pressure led to the red card that tipped the match in Sevilla’s favour. The Scot refused to let the Athletic Club backline control a bouncing ball, forcing a rushed clearance from Aitor Paredes before Yuri Berchiche hauled down Miguel Sierra on the edge of the box.
This came after Ure’s debut off the bench in the win over Rayo Vallecano when he won a late penalty kick from which Peque Fernandez scored the decisive goal. In just two games, the Sevilla summer signing is showing why the Andalucians were right to spend €9m on him in the first place.
Ure had his pick of various clubs across Europe this summer. The young forward was midway through a breakout season for Sirius in the Swedish Allsvenskan, scoring no fewer than 15 goals in just 15 appearances. His development had reached a point that a jump to a Big Five league was inevitable.
Sevilla made sense as a destination for Ure after the departure of Akor Adams. The Spaniards were in the market for a new centre forward and the Scot ticked a lot of boxes as someone they could develop. If Sevilla’s model is to buy young and sell on for a profit, there is a lot of upside to Ure’s signing.
In Sweden, Ure was a force of nature. Standing at 6ft 2”, he has the physical frame to bully opposition defenders. His height also gives him an advantage in the air. By no means, though, is Ure a limited targetman. He is technically comfortable with the ball at his feet and is quick across the ground.
Most impressive about Ure is his knack for being in the right place at the right time. His penalty box instincts are sharp and have been honed over a number of years in the Rangers and Anderlecht academies. By the time Ure signed for Sirius, he was ready for the senior game. He’s the Highland Haaland.
Ure’s emergence comes at a time when new Scotland manager Sébastien Pocognoli wants to turn the national team into a pressing machine. The Belgian has spoken about his aim to adopt an attack-minded approach with Scotland set to face North Macedonia, Slovenia and Switzerland in the Nations League in the next month.
Ukraine have reportedly attempted to recruit Ure due to the player’s grandfather hailing from the country. Most, however, expect the 22-year-old to be included in Pocognoli’s first squad as Scotland boss with Ure boasting the sort of profile that could supercharge the new manager’s vision.
“My ambition is to play with Scotland one day,” said Ure when asked about his international allegiance. “But I have no stress for that situation. I feel like what I do at club level will give me the opportunities I deserve. There’s been contact [from Ukraine]. But it’s not a decision I would rush. I certainly feel I’d want to play for Scotland.”
Before Ure can truly claim to be the striker Scotland has waited a generation or two for, he must work hard to establish himself at Sevilla. As impactful as his first two games have been, manager Luis García Plaza will surely want more out of his new signing as a link up player and focal point.
As Ure gets used to his new teammates, the timings of his runs will almost certainly improve. García Plaza also highlighted how the Scot has struggled with the conditions in Spain. “In training the other day he was saying to me, ‘this heat is crazy!’ I mean, he’s just come from Sweden and he is not used to playing in these high temperatures,” said the Sevilla boss.
Sevilla host Atlético Madrid this weekend in what will be the next step of Ure’s development. After back-to-back victories to start the season, Sevilla will be underdogs against one of LaLiga’s strongest sides. If Ure had just 12 touches against Athletic Club, he might have even fewer against Atleti. These, however, are the games he has been signed for.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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