Having sold Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic this summer, The Red Devils really should have brought in two fresh new centre-back options by now. There’s just no way that Louis Van Gaal’s side can survive and prosper without a bit of experience at the centre of their defense, can they? Yes, they’ve brought in Marcos Rojo, but surely they still need a little something more. Surely the Argentine ace can’t re-build this defense all on his own?
Things didn’t go well for Manchester United last season. David Moyes was left with an aging, unmotivated side. Now that players have moved on, things could get even tougher for Van Gaal.
Yes, they’ve had a good pre-season, beating everybody in their path, but this shouldn’t disguise their flaws. Let’s just hope that the Manchester United hierarchy act before it’s too late.
With this in mind, I was excited to see The Metro link Manchester United to Roma’s top-quality centre-back Mehdi Benatia.
Benatia only moved to Roma last summer (after 3 years and 80 appearances at Udinese), but he’s already managed to make a major impact. Serie A is a place where defensive talent really gets to shine and Benatia certainly ticks this box.
At 6 foot 2 inches tall, he’s a physically imposing presence, who’s dominant in the air, nippy along the turf and strong in the tackle. He also provides some threat in the opposition penalty area. Last season he made 33 appearances for Roma and managed to find the back of the net 5 times.
He’s also made an impact at international level, picking up 31 caps for Morocco.
It’s unfortunate then, that The Metro carry quotes suggesting that the player is ‘staying put’ and that he’s not looking to move on this summer. They also quote his manager Rudi Garcia, who dismisses any chance of Benatia moving on: “As far as I can see he has a four-year contract and that’s all that needs to be said.”
Whilst it’s disappointing to see these comments, I don’t see them as evidence that Manchester United should give up. There’s still some time before the transfer window closes and The Red Devils have plenty of financial muscle.
Yes, Benatia’s under contract, but United should be able to tempt Roma into selling with a big money offer. What’s more, would the player really turn down a move to United were the opportunity presented to him?
With ESPN claiming that Benatia could be available for £30m, The Red Devils would be foolish to miss out.
What’s your take? Where does Medhi Benatia’s future lie?
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