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10 years of FIF
Jesus Navas was closer to forward than RB too. Converting from a winger to wingback is less demanding than to a fullback. Also Piszczek.Cancelo, Cuadrado are flank players, wide midfielders or wingers by trade. Thuram is a forward, essentially a striker on the left. Their characteristics and the way they play is completely different. Thuram has also played half his career as an outright centre forward. How many of of Perisic, Cuadrado, Kostic or Cancelo played half their careers as a striker?
They might occupy similar zones at times but that does not translate to similar functions on the pitch.
Of the names you've mentioned, only Cuadrado has spent significant time playing "all 3 roles", as an attacking winger, wide midfielder / wing back, and outright fullback. But Cuadrado made his name at Udinese and Lecce as a RWB in a 352 before ever being known as a winger at Fiorentina. He had that experience prior. Cancelo was always an RB and was occasionally experimented with further up the pitch. Perisic, for all his defending, has never, ever played as left back. Kostic likewise. It's not like these guys were all wide forwards like Mahrez or Insigne and all seamlessly transitioned into fullbacks.
The point is, you can’t say Thuram would not work as a wingback if you have not seen him there. That position is rare to begin with. I have seen much more fragile players with zero defensive capabilities successfully deployed in such role, so it’s trainable.
Let the professionals evaluate him on what they see but we don’t.
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