If I’m honest, I’ve never quite seen the appeal of a certain Lassana Diarra. He was average at Arsenal, good but never great at Portsmouth and hasn’t managed to make himself a regular at Real Madrid. He has a reputation for being a world-class defensive midfielder, but I’d argue his nomadic C.V. reads otherwise. Under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid Diarra has found it increasingly difficult to get a look in at the club. Now that Nuri Sahin has arrived from Dortmund competition is likely to be even more tough.
The Daily Mail recently reported that Manchester United and Tottenham had been put on ‘red alert’ after Mourinho opted to leave Diarra out of Real Madrid’s American tour. Whether or not there’s any truth to this, I’m not sure. Yet, I can’t help but feel that Manchester United could do better.
Diarra strikes me as a somewhat limited footballer. Sure he has a good engine and gets around the pitch causing a good deal of nuisance, but his passing is questionable and he doesn’t drive the play forward as much as you’d like. I can’t help but feel at this moment that Manchester United need a creative talent like Luka Modric or Wesley Sneijder to join the squad rather than a man who breaks up play like Lassana Diarra.
What’s more, Wesley Sneijder is versatile enough to play both the defensive midfielder position and in a more advanced role. He’s fiery, competitive, can pass and will get goals. I can’t see Lassana being as effective in a more attacking role.
Of course, Sneijder would be a much more expensive option than Diarra (who the Mail reports would be available for around £10m). But if Manchester United are after a cheap option who can play the defensive midfielder position why not look to West Ham’s Scott Parker? The English international is rumoured to be available for around £7-8m and I would argue is at a similar level in terms of ability to Lassana Diarra.
So in these respects, Diarra isn’t the right man for United. It seems to me that they most need a creative talent in the heart of midfield, but even if that isn’t Sir Alex’s preference, there are better, more economical options for him to pick from than this Real Madrid star.
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hes better than your rubbish carrick we have never had a defensive midfielder since keane plus even if sneijder came who will hold the midfield even barca has busquets ,milan flamini,inter thiago .this is plain rubbish
scott parker what a joke english players are rubbish ,did u see how ghokan inler put parker in his place in the england vs switzerland game hohohhohohohho and inler only plays for udinese
What an utter non-piece of journalism. One remembers watching the Portsmouth v United Community Shield where he continually did more than just get around the pitch and make a nuisance. I can remember (despite press reports afterwards) him taking the ball off of Scholes and other members of the united MF. The fact that other player’s in the Pompey side didn’t contribute is not a reflection on his quality (or otherwise). He is exactly the player Manu need. To say he was good at Portsmouth (but not great) is the mark of someone who never spent much time watching him (apart from MOTD ‘highlights’). He drove PFC to their highest PL places and was very much a key to making the cup final.
Harry Cloke did you ever see Diarra play at Portsmouth, well i did and i can tell you now he was the best player i have ever seen in a Pompey shirt (and please consider that at that point we had a team able to finish in the top half of the Premier league, win the FA Cup and qualify for Europe). We have had some great players over the years but this guy is by far the best and any team in the premier league would be lucky to have him. If i had to find any fault in this player then it would probably be his distribution of the ball but other than that pure class.
Your description of Diarra is ridiculously inaccurate. Poor passer? Not a forward player? I actually laughed at loud when I read those…
Diarra would improve Man United. No question.
Your right to say Sneijder and Modric are more suitable fits for Man Utd at the moment, both have the skill and composure to play the ‘killer ball’ which is something Utd have been slightly missing.
But to discount Diarra as you have done above is completely wrong. I assume you didn’t follow his career at Portsmouth too closely because he was outstanding for the club. Take for instance, the FA Cup Quarter Final 2008 vs Man U: Lassana showed his full game – energy, power, drive and great passing. He may not be of the same standard as some of his Real team-mates but to label him ‘limited’ is really unfair.
Having seen Diarra play while at Pompey I’m afraid to say you are doing the man a grave injustice. Although very effective as defensive midfielder he is great at bringing the ball forward through midfield. Very much like Scholes he took the ball off the back 4 and brought the ball forward. Not saying he is Scholes, but was the anchor of a very successful year for Pomepy which saw us win the F.A. Cup and finish 7th. Very underestimated player the best player Pompey had during their stay in the Premiership.
Diarra good but never great for Pompey?
He was the best player we have seen at this club. He was absolutely phenomenal. Man of the match is nearly every game he played for us. We would never have won the FA Cup without him.
Oda post has said it all.d writer of piece shd go write abt rugby players nt football playaz…he’s got wrng stats abt diarra.so 2 ask,hw many of madrids match av u watchd diarra play?
What a load of tosh. I’ve never seen anyone better than Diarra at playing holding midfield. He is absolutely first rate and Mourinho has just never liked him for his own personal reasons. Man U need players who can keep the ball on the European stage at the very top level. He is as fit as Ji-sung and miles better than carrick/gibson.
I watched him for a season at pompey in the prem and he would play even better with better players and the freedom man u play with. This is a no brainer.
Way off base my friend…Diarra is exactly what United need.
My question is, is he really still that good after warming the bench for so long?
Diarra is a class act. He would get into any team in the Premiership. He can go forward as well as be a defensive midfielder. Trust me I am a scout at in the Rymans League and I would love to buy him!
Total rubbish. Diarra is a superb player who could play for any team in the world. His performances in a then-decent Portsmouth team were phenomenal week in, week out. This is lazy, poorly researched writing. Be better.