Manchester United are continuing their transfer pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and former captain Gary Neville believes the Moroccan would’ve been crucial against Wolves.
Gary Nevillebelieves the signing ofSofyan Amrabatwould preventManchester UnitedmidfielderCasemirofrom getting “absolutely torn to shreds” like he did againstWolves.
Casemiro and his midfield team-mates,Bruno FernandesandMason Mount, “got ripped apart” during a chaotic Red Devils performance, as theyscraped past Wolves with an unconvincing 1-0 victoryto get theirPremier Leaguecampaign off to a winning but also concerning start. Their unbalanced midfield gave ex-captain Neville food for thought and in his opinion demonstrated why United bossErik ten Haghas been pursuingMoroccointernational Amrabat.
Ten Hag worked with theFiorentinastar at former clubUtrechtand it’s being ɾєρօɾτed that the Red Devils will launch an offer onceDonny van de Beek’sfuture is decided. Amid interest from Premier League rivalsWest Ham- who recentlymade a bid which was rєjєƈτed by Fiorentina- Neville has suggested that United have already missed a trick by not having Amrabat, 26, signed in time to face Wolves, who dominated in midfield on Monday and wereunfortunate to come away from Old Trafford with a defeat.
“One thing he’s not going to do is go back to theFredandMcTominaystyle of midfield because they can’t play the ball properly,” the ex-Red Devils right-back began onSky Sports. “He wants everybody on that pitch to be able to play the ball his way.
“What I will say is Amrabat could come in and play alongside Casemiro, perhaps give him some help. Look, he got absolutely torn to shreds tonight Casemiro, Manchester United’s midfield were non-existent, they got ripped apart by Wolves.”
Neville went on to explain: “Last season when they got emptied in midfield, they moved Fernandes forward and єɴԀed up putting Fred or McTominay in alongside Casemiro to be more solid. He wants to get away from that and that’s why he has signed Mason Mount. But I think in certain games he will be forced to bring another midfielder in to play alongside Casemiro to handle the ball.”
Even when United bɾօυɢҺt onChristian Eriksenin place of new signing Mount, the experienced Dane wasn’t able to control the game from midfield as he so often does. Ten Hag’s side eventually rode their luck to pick up all three points, with the Red Devils manager admitting that his side “could be better.”
“We gave away too many easy giveaways,” Ten Hag bemoaned post-match. “That was not good. But you have to get into the season and we will improve on that fact. When you see giveaways, then you give them the opportunity to counter and then you have to follow [them].
“But I think we matched the runs and we Ԁєɑłt with it. The clean sheet, that tells [you] everything, and that we, again, have been here in Old Trafford and we have a clean sheet, which is good. Now we have to be better on the ball.”