Why Manchester United will be an ideal destination for Thiago Alcantara
Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea have enquired about Bayern Munich’s Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara. It is being reported that the Bavarian club has opened the door for the player to take an exit from Munich, despite having his contract run until 2021.
With regards to the destination club, United seem like a more sensible option for the 27-year-old. The Red Devils are probably in need of a playmaking central midfielder who can pick a pass from deeper positions to open a defence up.
They bought Fred to improve that department but the Brazilian is injured and is expected to miss the early parts of next season. Getting Thiago will add a different dimension to their midfield, which could improve Mourinho’s grumpy mood.
Here’s why Old Trafford is an ideal place for the Spanish star to go.
Mourinho may offer him a chance to make the difference
Thiago is a very elegant player who has the ability to be a difference-maker with his defence-splitting passes from midfield. The 27-year-old can perform various roles across the midfield to enhance his stock in the team.
He can impact the game at both ends of the field, which will impress Mourinho. The Spaniard has a pass completion rate of 91.5% and fabricated 29 chances (key passes) in 19 league appearances last season.
He can dribble past people in tight situations, to open up spaces in midfield, a thing which can be devilishly used in counter-attacking situations.
Furthermore, Thiago’s defensive contribution is something he thrives on, which makes him a complete midfielder. He has a tackle and interception rate of 2.4 and 1.4 per game respectively. These are impeccable numbers for a midfielder who is allegedly touted to play as an “attacking” midfielder.
He can fit in Mourinho’s 4-3-3 system by playing as one of the central midfielders alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba.
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Verdict
Thiago needs a club where he can cement that midfield spot and perform well on a weekly basis. Manchester United can be the right place for him to stamp his football qualities on the pitch. Moreover, he will have the creative spark which not many midfielders have.
Henceforth, going to Manchester instead of Chelsea will be a better option.
Stats Courtesy – Who Scored.com