Can Manchester United persuade this £26m Serie A ace to leave his boyhood club?

For Manchester United, a lot of their attention this summer, has been placed on Cesc Fabregas.

This is all well and good, but I’d argue there’s an equally gifted midfielder, who would be much easier to sign, over in Italy.

That man’s name is Claudio Marchisio, a 27-year-old midfielder currently playing for Juventus.

For my money, the Italian ace would be a considerably better replacement for Paul Scholes than Cesc Fabregas.

Marchisio’s playing style reminds me somewhat of the Ginger Prince’s, though I should note that the Italian is actually a pretty good tackler (and probably doesn’t have access to Scholes’ wide-range of passes).

He’s known for his versatility and his ability to thrive as a defensive midfielder, out on the wings or pulling the strings in the centre-of-the-park. He combines hard-tackling with quick short passes and a penchant for shooting whenever the opportunity arises.

Last season (and the season before!) he was an integral part of Juventus’ title winning side, scoring 8 goals and notching 7 assists in 39 appearances.

What’s more, he has maintained a consistent record throughout his career. I’m surprised English clubs haven’t come in for him sooner.

But there does appear to be some movement. According to The Star, David Moyes is a ‘known admirer’ of the Marchisio. The player himself has even commented on his current situation:

“Obviously, I will not deny that I feel flattered when I see my name being linked with other clubs, including some of the most important and biggest in the world…

However, I have not talked to anyone and there are no concrete offers. I spoke with Juventus and they told me I’m still wanted. My desire is to stay here and win more trophies.Then again, you never know what will happen in football. I would not be the first player to leave his boyhood club.”

These sound like the words of a man with an open mind. It certainly seems like he’d be willing to move on should the right opportunity to arise. Perhaps Manchester United can provide him with this?

It’s not clear how much money it would take to persuade Juventus to sell (The Express claim he could cost £26m), but it is clear that Marchisio would be a real asset for Manchester United.

David Moyes has noted that this area of the pitch is where the Red Devils are weakest. Signing Marchisio could be the perfect solution.

What’s your take? Would you like to see Claudio Marchisio at Old Trafford next season?

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