Why Manchester United must not sign Jordi Alba in January
Premier League giants Manchester United are interested in signing Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba, as per the Sport.
Alba, 29, is yet to receive a new contract from Barcelona after the club authorities had promised him back in 2016 that he would get a contract extension.
The Spanish international’s contract at the Camp Nou expires in the summer of 2020 after he last renewed it in 2015. Alba’s ongoing contract dispute with Barcelona, however, has alerted Manchester United.
Alba has been one of the cornerstones of Barcelona since joining from Valencia back in 2012. He has won the UEFA Champions League, four La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey trophies and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2015. The 29-year-old has been a serial winner with the Blaugrana, establishing himself as one of the best left-backs across Europe in the last few years.
The Spanish left-back has started the new season in an impressive manner as well, scoring and assisting a goal apiece in eight La Liga games. Alba further demonstrated his quality when he put in a splendid performance on the left for Barcelona during the 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in the Champions League.
There’s no doubting Alba’s quality but the question is, do United need him in their squad?
United have struggled since the beginning of the 2018/19 season. During the summer transfer window, Jose Mourinho failed to get the players he wanted and as the season began, it reflected directly on the team’s performances.
The Red Devils are currently placed 8th in the Premier League, with 13 points from eight matches, although, the last game against Newcastle United fueled some positivity among the supporters after Mourinho’s men came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.
It is true that United have been facing defensive problems this season. The team has lacked a proper defensive structure as teams like Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham have scored three goals each against Mourinho’s men.
As far as United’s defensive problems are concerned, however, Alba isn’t exactly the player Mourinho should look at in January. Luke Shaw has been United’s standout performer so far this season, while Ashley Young has done a decent job in a makeshift left-back role. The renaissance of Shaw as a player has eased the problems that Mourinho faced last season at left-back.
Read more: Opinion – Man United must go all out to sign this World Cup-winning centre-back amidst uncertain future
Before the start of the 2018/19 season, United’s need for a full-back topped the list and Mourinho rightfully acted on it by signing Diogo Dalot from FC Porto in the summer. With the Red Devils now well-stocked in the full-back department, Mourinho must not sign Alba as it doesn’t make sense.