05-07-2025
Dario Naamo given Dundee United rave review as Finland insider maps 'high level' talent's path to to the top
Stevie Grieve managed Naamo as SJK and gave the Tannadice club the lowdown on the Finnish Under 21 international
Stevie Grieve has insisted Dario Naamo is 'a high level talent' who can become a very big asset for Dundee United.
Jim Goodwin has snapped up the Finnish under-21 wing-back on a season-long loan from St Polten, with an option to buy.
Grieve previously had Naamo at SJK and gave Dundee United a glowing recommendation as they did their homework on him ahead of his Tannadice switch.
Grieve said: 'I spoke to Ross Goodwin (head of recruitment)on Tuesday and Luigi Capuano a few weeks ago. I sent Luigi a couple of players. Ross called me to discuss him.
"He was aware of what we are doing as a club. A lot of clubs in Europe are aware of what we are doing because we have one of the youngest senior teams in world football.
'I explained all the characteristics but Ross had done his homework on him and had seen he was a player. He professional and he has a good background.
'His mentality is his biggest thing. He will succeed wherever he goes, as long as he gets the chance to play and is given a run in the team then I can see him becoming a big asset for Dundee United.
'I can't speak more highly of the boy He is going to be a high level talent in the future.'
Naamo has just come back from being involved at the under-21 European Championships. He will offer full-back and wing-back options on both sides for Goodwin's side.
'Dario can play both sides as a full-back or a wing back,' the SJK head coach confirmed. 'He is a very good athlete. He is very quick and his acceleration over the first 10 to 15 yards is excellent.
'He has the balance and agility to get out of tricky situations, especially when a ball goes in behind. He can dribble with both sides. 'He is not the biggest but physically he is strong.
'On the ball, he is very good. St Polten used him more as wing back. His recovery rate is very high and so is his speed.
'At SJK, we gave him a free role. He played right back but came into the middle and joined in. We could also use him going outside and he has worked hard on his final ball.
'He also gets in at the back post and has added that goal threat to his game. He is a really exciting talent.'
Grieve managed to snap up Naamo after their rivals Honka went bust.
He recalled: 'He had played 700 minutes for Honka and he had played pretty well. He showed all the things I look for in a young player.
'He is brave on the ball, he tries to get away with the ball when he is under pressure and he likes to drive the game forward. 'As I said, he was good under pressure and can retain the ball.
'He was only 18 and that is not always easy. He can play off either foot and can get away from people.
'Honka went bankrupt and we were able to get him for free. We told him if he came to SJK he would play and we would develop him.
'We highlighted areas where we felt he could develop and I told him how we were going to play. He was excited to come. I gave him a free role and we knew what we were getting.'
Character is a big thing for Naamo. He struggled initially at SJK but went away and worked at his game and became the best full-back in Finland before he moved to Austria.
Grieve added: 'In pre-season, he struggled a little bit. It was the mechanical nature of our training.
'He went away and strengthened his core and pelvis and he managed to get through that difficult spell. 'When the season started, he improved week on week and towards the end of the season, he was comfortably the best full-back in Finland. He was good.
'St Polten gave us a good loan fee and there was an obligation to buy. The ownership went bankrupt and we are still waiting on our money.'
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