Jose Mourinho
According to a report by Daily Express, Manchester United are interested in signing Sporting CP defender Cristiano Piccini this summer. The 25-year-old has attracted attention from the likes of Juventus and Arsenal as well, meaning a bidding war could be on the horizon.
Despite finishing as the Premier League runners-up, United endured a terribly underwhelming campaign. And Jose Mourinho has a tough task at hand as he must strengthen his team in numerous departments ahead of the new term.
Throughout the course of the previous campaign, the Red Devils made use of converted wingers Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia as their full-backs. It was a move that was met with a lot of raised eyebrows but ultimately, Mourinho’s unconventional decision paid dividends as the duo worked wonders in their respective positions. While Young occupied the left-back role, Valencia made a solid impact at right-back.
However, both players are on the wrong side of 30 and United cannot afford to rely solely on these two next season. Granted, they have been playing exceptionally well but Mourinho must boost the right-back position pronto.
After all, he still has Luke Shaw for the opposite side. Hence, a move for Piccini does make sense. At 25 years of age, he is immensely talented and his presence would go a long way in bolstering United’s forces at the back.
Piccini appeared 36 times across competitions for Real Betis last season. During that time, he chipped in with 3 assists and recorded a decent pass success rate of 79%.
In addition to that, the player won an average of 1.7 aerial duels, 2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game. Those numbers are mighty impressive for a right-back and it must be noted that he can also play as a centre-back if needed. However, if United make a move for him, Mourinho must be wary of the player’s disciplinary issues.
He picked up a whopping 5 yellow cards and a solitary red card in the Liga NOS last season. To succeed in the Premier League, Piccini must try to stay calm and composed and refrain from making rash decisions or challenges.
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As things stand, United have a gargantuan task ahead of them and Piccini must tone down his actions to truly make an impact for the Red Devils. Nevertheless, if channelled in the right manner, Mourinho could benefit by the player’s presence next season.
