Manchester United are keen on signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. There are reports that United have a bid accepted for the French star already, but what will Rabiot bring to Manchester United’s midfield, and is he a suitable alternative to Frenkie de Jong?
COULD RABIOT X MANCHESTER UNITED WORK?
Since leaving PSG in 2019, Rabiot has had an underwhelming time in Serie A. The French star is a good midfielder who thrives as a central midfielder or sometimes in defensive midfield.
Rabiot is a good passer (83% accuracy in 2021/22). He is also impressive when it comes to the defensive phase. He reads the game well enough to avoid making tackles all the time, and even when he has to tackle, he is quite good at it.
However, on the pitch, Manchester United need more than Rabiot can offer. The cry over the last few months has been for a ball carrier in midfield. Someone like Bernardo Silva, Frenkie de Jong, or Mateo Kovačić.
Scott McTominay and Fred are very average at moving the ball and linking the base of midfield with the attack.
Rabiot can dictate the pace of any game, he can stabilize any game with his movements and calmness on the ball, but United do not need that. He won’t come in to drastically change the team, but perhaps against lesser opponents, if partnered with another technically gifted central midfielder like Eriksen, he could do well.
Their efforts to sign Frenkie de Jong this summer show that Ten Hag understands exactly what his side lack in midfield. Rabiot is a good addition to an understaffed midfield, but Manchester United needs more than what he can offer.
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