Amidst all the massive speculations linking Manchester United with almost every promising prospect across Europe who has impressed last season, it seems Jose Mourinho is instead targeting men rather than the wonder kids, which his nemesis Pep Guardiola is after. If reports are to believed, after Inter Milan’s 28-year-old Ivan Perisic, the Portuguese manager is after Paris Saint-Germain’s 30-year-old Blaise Matuidi.
Of course, the 54-year-old is under huge pressure to deliver, and given the amount the club is ready to sanction to get back their lost stature, only the best will be accepted. After spending around £150 million last summer, which saw huge names like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly come to Old Trafford, United could only manage a certain EFL Cup and the Europa League trophy.
Their form in the domestic campaign was really poor as they finished in the sixth position in the league table. Repeated injuries and squad experiments gave a delayed start to the star-studded side as United drew 15 times in the league, three times more than relegated side Middlesbrough. Mourinho isn’t going to repeat the same blunder next season and wants ready-made products now, even if that means no long-term investment.
After the £89 million signing of Pogba, it is pretty much confirmed that United want to build the squad around the towering midfielder. But it is exactly what United failed to do this season. Except for Ander Herrera, United had no quality options to win the ball back and provide passes from the deep. Marouane Fellaini has been tremendously inconsistent while the aged legs of Michael Carrick are just a reliable backup now.
Though not the best in his position, Matuidi definitely has a huge presence in the midfield. The 30-year-old is no more PSG’s first-choice in the middle of the park with the emergence of Marco Verratti and Adrian Rabiot, he only remains a figure in the squad. He has reportedly rejected a contract extension and is set to leave the French capital for first team chances elsewhere.
He made it pretty clear in the post-match interview after winning the Coupe de France against Angers. He said, “Maybe is my last game with Paris.” Since joining PSG from AS Saint-Étienne back in 2011, the Frenchman has played 292 games for them, scoring 33 goals and assisting 30 times.
His work rate and superior strength in the middle of the park is a huge asset for any team in the world, which doubles with his ability to take controlled long shots from outside the box. So is he the man for United?
