It’s been a tough season for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Players have been hurt and haven’t been performing up to par.
But one problem the Dutch manager hasn’t been able to fix yet is his centre, which is having a hard time.
Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes will definitely start for the Red Devils, but Casemiro, Sofyan Amrabat, and Scott McTominay haven’t been able to find a spot next to the 18-year-old.
So, it’s not a surprise that Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to add to the middle this summer. One person could be a great partner for Mainoo.
A story from CalcioMercato says that Man United is keeping an eye on what’s going on with Adrien Rabiot.
It’s possible for Ratcliffe to make a move for the French player now that his contract extension has been held up. He currently plays for Juventus in Italy.
Adrien Rabiot reacts: Rabiot’s current deal with the Serie A club ends in the summer, so he could leave for free.
The player wants to play in the Premier League, which could help United. However, Newcastle United has also been interested in signing the France international, so United will have to work hard to get him.
Since he joined Juventus in 2019, Rabiot has always been in the starting group, and this season has been no different.
The 29-year-old has played in 25 Serie A games this season, starting 24 of them. He has been used as a box-to-box midfielder in these games.
The former superstar from Paris Saint-Germain has been given the freedom to go forward whenever he sees an opening by Massimiliano Allegri. He has helped set up seven goals and keep 14 clean sheets for Juventus.
Rabiot can easily play this role because he is full of energy and has a great engine. He would be the perfect partner for Mainoo, who is currently having a difficult time in the middle of the pitch.
| Rabiot’s 23/24 Serie A Stats | |
|---|---|
| Stats (per game) | Rabiot |
| Pass accuracy | 84% |
| Passes completed | 30.6 |
| Tackles | 1.8 |
| Balls recovered | 4.9 |
| Dribbled past | 0.4 |
| Duels won | 5.6 |
| Via Sofascore | |
The above table shows that Rabiot is a pretty well-rounded player who is at ease both when the ball is in his control and when it is not.
This season, Juventus has had less possession than their opponents on average, which limits the number 25’s technical skill. This is why his pass accuracy and completion rates aren’t great, but he would be able to show that off more with Mainoo, who is known for being a technical master.
FBref says that Rabiot does 2.2 progressive runs per game, which shows how good he is at moving the ball. This shows that he can easily cover a lot of ground, which is something United has really needed.
Additionally, the “impressive” left-footed ace, as writer Julien Laurens called him, often changes the game defending because of how quick he is. This will make Mainoo’s job much easier, since the number 37 has to cover huge gaps because Casemiro can’t move.
Overall, Rabiot might not start right away if he joined, but getting someone as good as him for free could be a great deal, given the relationship he could have with Mainoo on the pitch while being signed for free.
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