In a recent report, La Gazzetta dello Sport (subscription required) claimed that Manchester United are locked in a three-way battle for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic with the Italian outfit planning to hold talks with the player over a new contract. It is understood that the Red Devils are showing interest in recruiting the Croatia international but could face competition in the form of Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of him.
Brozovic’s Impressive Form At San Siro Last Season
Brozovic managed to put in a run of eye-catching displays at the centre of Inter’s midfield last season when he helped them clinch the Serie A title. The 28-year-old registered two goals and seven assists in 42 matches for the Italian giants in the previous campaign on all fronts.
The Croatia international proved himself to be a valuable contributor as a key component of Inter’s midfield after he averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 0.8 shots and 1.4 key passes per game in the 2020-21 Serie A campaign. He was even accurate when distributing possession from midfield, based on his pass success rate of 89.6% in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
Brozovic’s current contract at San Siro is set to expire at the end of this campaign, so Inter would have no choice but to cash in on him in January if they fail to get him tied down to a new contract. Hence, Man United will be in a good position to land him as long as they are willing to offer him a lucrative contract and regular first-team football in the coming seasons.
Is Brozovic The Right Choice For The Red Devils?
Brozovic is a tough-tackling central midfielder who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his side. He has a high work rate and can complete some energetic dribbles from midfield.
The Croatia international is an excellent passer of the ball and has got the vision to unlock the opposition defence with a killer pass in the attacking end of the pitch. He can even strike the ball with power and precision from long range but needs to add a few more goals to his game if he wants to be a success story at Old Trafford.
We can expect Brozovic to add some bite and steel to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield. Plus, he will also bring a lot of creativity to Man United’s first-team and could serve as an upgrade over Fred and Scott McTominay as they have both been guilty of being a bit inconsistent with their midfield contributions over the past couple of seasons.
With all things considered, Brozovic will be a decent choice for the Mancunian giants to consider this winter or at the end of this season as he is good enough to help them win some major trophies in the years to come. Furthermore, the Croat could be available as a free agent next summer if Inter fail to agree on a new contract with the player which could open the door for Man United to snap him up as they have the financial resources to offer him a lucrative, long-term contract.
