Verratti deal would really make a Marc
SOME United supporters began defending Nemanja Matic weeks ago amid the disapproval which greeted the news Jose Mourinho had earmarked him as one of the club’s priority signings.
A voluble faction of Chelsea fans irate with Matic after his FA Cup final performance and a Fabinho fixation among certain fans, which was fuelled by false information United had bid for the Monaco midfielder, gave the impression Matic is some kind of carthorse.
Matic was, a source described, ‘institutionally liked’ at United years before Mourinho was appointed. David Moyes was interested but dithered and Chelsea re-signed him for £21m, which was a snip for a midfielder who contributed pivotally to two championship successes.
The justifiable reservations among United supporters with Matic and Ivan Perisic is there are better options out there.
Just going off the supposed fee United are prepared to pay Chelsea for Matic, maybe they should test the waters in north London, where Eric Dier is desperate to leave Tottenham to collaborate with Mourinho.
Beyond these shores, Radja Nainggolan has piqued United fans’ interest but not as much as Marco Verratti did with his Instagram post this week.
Verratti is now represented by Mino Raiola after recently apologising for his previous agent’s behaviour and a change of representative in the transfer window is enough to make a player’s name go viral. Or the agent’s, in Raiola’s case.
Raiola trended on Twitter rather than Verratti and there are not many better holding players in world football than the dynamic Paris Saint-Germain midfielder. Verratti is superior and five years younger than Matic, who turns 29 on August 1. Then there’s the Raiola factor.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku were advised to join United over other clubs by their Italianborn agent and Raiola reputedly threw a chair in frustration during negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Verratti might be more coveted than any of the aforementioned quartet were. Raiola’s very association with Verratti, a top drawer midfielder, should encourage the Reds to touch base.
United could easily afford Verratti and his statement signing would come with more psychological weight.
After pipping Chelsea to Romelu Lukaku and using Real Madrid like pawns as Alvaro Morata was left at the road side, Verratti appeals also because Barcelona are barely concealing their desire to sign him. “We are not a club that is ready to buy and buy and buy non-stop,” Mourinho warned in Houston. “We are not a club that is ready to pay what the clubs want us to pay.” Exceptions should be made and Verratti is just one of them. In attack, United have gone quiet on Ivan Perisic and pursuing him might not be worth the hassle. Few players match the profile of the 28-year-old winger that are attainable but Alexis Sanchez is one of them. Sanchez is a Premier League-proven grafter with the guile to transform United into champions. The Reds’ last title was made possible by Sir Alex Ferguson speaking to the ‘little boy inside’ of Robin van Persie and the Dutchman overlooked City’s grander offer in favour of spearheading the Reds to a 20th title. Weakening rivals is a hallmark of Mourinho’s transfer strategy and depriving Arsenal of Sanchez would ensure they remain alsorans. It is wishful thinking, but just envisage a front six of Verratti, Ander Herrera, Pogba, Sanchez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lukaku. Samuel Luckhurst ANDREAS Pereira expects to be given the chance to impress at United following a successful loan spell.
The 21-year-old made 35 appearances for La Liga side Granada last season, impressing in spite of the club’s relegation.
“I am here and I want to stay here and I believe I am going to stay,” he said.
“It is a very nice feeling (to be back), I am very happy. I am glad that I am here on the tour.
“I think I will have the chance to kick on and I want to kick on here.
“I want to play and show everyone that I can help the team and I want to win trophies and help everyone getting trophies and get a good season.”