The contract renewal of Michael Carrick might give the Manchester United fans some breathing space but the need of a stable physical presence in the middle of the pitch would be felt. Jose Mourinho has been searching that particular player but United still haven’t been able to come up with anything concrete as of now.
Carrick has to be given credit for the way he has performed. In this age too he has empowered the United midfield from the deep. United had opted for a number of combinations in the midfield but the result has come whenever Carrick was on the pitch.
Also, the names of Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba need to be mentioned. Herrera especially has been a true superstar in the middle of the pitch as the Spaniard midfielder showed his effectiveness in the middle of the pitch. His ability to thwart opponents’ attack and his vision of passing has helped the Red Devils immensely. In the reverse fixture against Chelsea in the Premier League, the Spaniard had the responsibility to keep Eden Hazard in check and he did the job so delightfully that Chelsea couldn’t even muster a shot on the United goal.
However, the addition of a powerful midfielder is looking imminent as Carrick will not be the same player as he was in the last season. Radja Nainggolan could be that missing part of the puzzle that Mourinho has been searching.
A complete midfielder, the Belgian is equally strong in both the departments, defence and attack. A very reliable option in the midfield, Radja has made himself a regular member of the AS Roma side. Tactically a brilliant midfielder, he has the capacity to become the next Roy Keane in this United side.
Paul Pogba has had an average season impact wise and he can do much better. At Juventus, he had the luxury to play alongside Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, the two stalwarts of the game. Mourinho has to inject someone who would let the best out of Pogba so he can roam around and can do his thing.
As a whole, Nainggolan would bring a different dimension to United’s midfield. He can control the game from the back, can stitch passes effortlessly and can score goals when needed. A proper box to box midfielder, he can be very effective with his creative attributes and that speaks volumes.
A midfield trio of Nainggolan, Pogba and Herrera would bring all the barrier in the next season.
