After years of inconsistency, Manchester United discover themselves again out there for a dependable defensive midfield presence.
The Casemiro experiment, whereas initially promising, has faltered.
The Brazilian’s declining mobility and positional indiscipline have left United uncovered in opposition to high-intensity opposition.
In 2023/24, Casemiro ranked among the many Premier League’s worst for tackles and interceptions per 90 amongst defensive midfielders.
His wrestle to adapt to the tempo of the Premier League, mixed with United’s chaotic construction, has led to criticism from pundits and supporters alike.
Now approaching 34, his time on the high stage is operating out.
United’s recruitment technique beneath new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is shifting towards extra structured, long-term planning.
One goal beneath shut consideration suits that profile, and whereas he might not possess the identical magnificence or affect as Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri, the parallels between them recommend he might change into United’s reply to their rival’s midfield metronome.
Man United signing new defensive monster
João Palhinha might not possess the identical high quality as Rodri, however few midfielders in Europe are more proficient on the darkish arts of defending.
The 30-year-old Portuguese has constructed a status as one of many continent’s greatest destroyers, a participant able to stopping assaults, dominating duels, and offering structural self-discipline in entrance of the backline.
Labelled a “defensive monster” by recruitment analyst Marcus Carry, Palhinha first caught the Premier League’s consideration throughout a number of profitable campaigns with Fulham.
His mix of managed aggression, timing within the deal with, and elite aerial energy shortly earned admirers throughout the continent.
After a €50m (£43m) transfer to Bayern Munich in 2024, issues haven’t fairly clicked. He performed simply 25 video games in all competitions final season, solely ten of which have been begins, and has struggled to suit into Vincent Kompany’s plans.
With Bayern aiming to chop their losses, Portuguese outlet O Jogo studies that each Tottenham and Manchester United are monitoring his state of affairs, with Spurs the one membership to open formal negotiations.
Nonetheless, for the proper system, Palhinha stays a drive of nature.
How Palhinha compares to Rodri
Based on knowledge from FBref, throughout the final one year within the high 5 European leagues, Palhinha ranks within the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 (3.19), the 96th for aerial duels gained (2.34), and the 97th for move completion (92.4%).
His numbers present a participant who is just not solely a defensive disruptor but additionally protected and sensible with the ball.
The place Palhinha significantly excels is in successful duels and stopping counterattacks.
He efficiently tackles 67.8% of dribblers he faces, in comparison with Rodri’s 48.3%, highlighting his superior one-on-one defensive capacity.
He additionally makes 1.90 blocks per 90, virtually double that of Rodri (0.98), and wins 5.07 tackles per 90, greater than twice Rodri’s common of two.15.
Sure, Rodri is the superior all-rounder; his imaginative and prescient, ball development, and tempo-setting skills are unrivalled in England.
He dominates video games together with his positioning and intelligence, usually dictating possession for a Manchester Metropolis aspect that sees upwards of 60% of the ball in most matches.
However Palhinha operates in a special context. At Fulham, he was commonly dealing with wave after wave of strain, tasked with breaking apart play, masking area in transition, and coping with lengthy durations with out possession.
He was pressured to defend way more usually and way more urgently than Rodri. But he nonetheless maintained an elite-level move completion fee and positional self-discipline.
For United, he’s way more suited to Premier League depth than Casemiro has confirmed to be within the final 12 months.
At 30, he provides expertise and management, but additionally nonetheless has the engine to cowl floor and the sharpness to dominate aerially.
United’s curiosity additionally makes specific sense when contemplating Rúben Amorim, who coached Palhinha at Sporting CP.
Crucially, Palhinha would additionally give United’s new attacking signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the liberty to function larger up the pitch, figuring out that the bottom of midfield is secured.
He wouldn’t essentially be tasked with orchestrating the build-up play or dictating tempo, however reasonably offering the strong platform others can construct from, the identical function Rodri performed in his early Metropolis years, earlier than evolving right into a deeper playmaker.
He might not be Rodri. Few are. But when United need their very own model, a participant who can quietly and constantly shield the backline, win the midfield battles, and produce much-needed management – then Palhinha is the closest they’ve are available years.
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