Why Arsenal should sign Medhi Benatia from Juventus
According to the Daily Star (h/t Tuttomercatoweb), Juventus centre-back Medhi Benatia is unhappy at the club after finding himself in and out of the team under Max Allegri. Premier League giants Arsenal are considering a mid-season swoop for the Moroccan international. As per the report, the Gunners bosses have made the first contact over a potential transfer.
AC Milan are also interested in the player, who has a price tag of around €15m, an amount offered by the Rossoneri. Hence, if Arsenal are to buy him, they need to offer something above the aforementioned amount.
With Leonardo Bonucci partnering Giorgio Chiellini at the heart of the Old Lady defence, Benatia isn’t getting much game time in Turin. The 31-year-old has only featured in four league games and one Champions League game this season, quite a low number for a player who can be a key player in any big club in Europe.
And it would be ideal for Arsenal to make a move for Benatia and here’s why:
Benatia – an Ideal foil for the Gunners
Medhi Benatia is a centre-back of the highest quality, having played for some of the big clubs namely Roma, Bayern Munich and now Juventus. He possesses the propensities of a player who is confident in his game and knows what he is doing on the pitch.
Unai Emery likes his team to play out from the back, meaning the defenders need to be good passers of the ball. The Moroccan is impeccable at that and he has the pass success rate of over 90% in the games he has played this season.
Furthermore, the 31-year-old is a robust defender who doesn’t mind physical battles with the opposition. His aerial prowess can be used in both boxes while attacking and defending set-pieces.
Benatia’s reading of the game and the ability to always remain a step ahead of the strikers is something special. All in all, he is a complete centre-back who can enhance the quality of the Arsenal back-line without a shadow of a doubt.
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Hence, the Gunners should take the extra step and pounce on this opportunity to get the Moroccan over the line in north London. Alongside Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi or Sokratis, he can form a great partnership that can lead the team to success in the near future.