UNITED Squad has plenty of world-class potential
A FEW years back, one of the proposed new banners by the Stretford End Flags group was ‘We don’t buy world-class players, we make them,’ which was an inaccurate statement.
Fabien Barthez, Juan Sebastian Veron, Rio Ferdinand, Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria were topdrawer additions this century alone before Zlatan Ibrahimovic strode into England imperiously.
It was fair to deem Paul Pogba a ‘world-class’ signing when United paid Juventus (and Mino Raiola) close to £100million for a player Sir Alex Ferguson released.
Pogba’s talismanic conclusion to his comeback season reiterated his world-class credentials.
In Houston, he dominated City while playing in a position he would rather not start in, and his second-half shimmy sparked the showboating which delighted the American attendants.
Lukaku’s touch and movement were sound before he latched on to Pogba’s punt to make it two goals in two starts and his mere presence caused half-time substitute John Stones to stutter.
For all the talk of a Lukaku-Marcus Rashford axis, it is the PogbaLukaku partnership which could make United potent again. Lukaku’s mobility helps teammates to vary their passing and it was noticeable how fluid United’s front six was.
Jose Mourinho can develop a world-class player in Lukaku like he did with Didier Drogba.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is another. Officially named man of the match by the International Champions Cup sponsors, his pass for Rashford’s rifle made it two goals and two assists in three matches.
Shaw and Anthony Martial are two talents who are destined to be recognised among the best if they can regain their place and eradicate their shortcomings. Antonio Valencia has emerged as one of football’s leading right-backs under Mourinho and Marcus Rashford, at just 19, must hope to mature into such a special player the Bernabeu board might flutter their eyelashes at him.
One of the attractions for Eric Dier about joining United, apart from the salary hike, must be Mourinho’s track record with developing players into one of the best in their positions. Over a decade on from Deco, Drogba, Frank Lampard and the like, he is still doing it.
United buy and develop worldclass players.