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Forget It Mourinho – This Barcelona Flop Is Not The Right Man For Manchester United

Andre Gomes

Why Manchester United Should Not Consider Signing Andre Gomes

Manchester United’s heavily criticised midfield might seem like an incomplete jigsaw but in truth, it is more complete than what meets the eye. Usually, Jose Mourinho prefers the 4-2-3-1, playing two holding players and one attacking midfielder. In some games Paul Pogba is asked to sit deeper along with Ander Herrera with Mkhitaryan playing in the number 10 role. Sometimes Mourinho rotates with Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind in the deeper pocket. However, Paul Pogba is much more suited to play in the attacking midfield position given his obvious talent and goal threat.

United were rumoured to be interested in signing Andre Gomes from Barcelona but the fact is that they do not need a player like him. Andre Gomes is a good box to box midfielder but his quality is not yet proven in the La Liga. Gomes has looked unsure at times in the three-man Barcelona midfield and his role is not yet perfect. However, the Portuguese does have time on his side but Manchester United need one more player to do the defensive running to complement Ander Herrera.

Herrera, in most of the games, is made to work strenuously off the ball, hustling and harrying the opponents to win the ball back. So ideally, Mourinho should look at signing a player to help him do exactly that. A holding midfielder to support Herrera could allow United to absorb more pressure and also allow more players to join the attack. Pogba will have the creative freedom he needs in order to create space for his teammates and not give much attention to the defensive side of his game which is a weak point for the Frenchman.

Another holding midfielder, like Tiemoue Bakayoko, Marco Verratti or someone similar to Sergio Busquets would help the double pivot in United’s midfield triangle immensely. Mourinho should look at options in that specific player role instead of going for an unproven player like Andre Gomes. United need quality if they are to regain a stronghold over the Premier League and a holding midfielder could help the team massively.

There are a number of glaring issues for United; like a striker who can hit 25 goals and a left back to counter balance the injury plagued Luke Shaw. But Mourinho is slowly putting a team together. A solid defensive partner for Eric Bailly (Victor Lindelof) has been purchased and the ‘Special One’ knows exactly what he is doing.

The bottom line is that while Andre Gomes might seem like a good option, Manchester United would do better with a player more physically suited to the rigours of the Premier League.