With Ronaldo’s comeback, well, Old Trafford also known as the theatre of dreams is dreaming again. United have had a pretty decent transfer window and they have managed to sign three World Class players. They have signed a budding winger in Jadon Sancho who has been on their transfer list for a long while. Then they have signed Raphael Varane who is a proven World Class defender who has won the World Cup and also four Champions Leagues Titles. And then they have got back their Prodigal Son - Cristiano Ronaldo whom we don’t need to speak much about. They already had a squad brimming with talent and now they have replenished it with even more talent. Maybe it's again time for glorious days for Manchester United.
Let’s talk about some key players in key positions. Starting at the front, United have some serious attacking options at their disposal. They have Ronaldo of course who is the highest club goal scorer in history, highest goal scorer in the Champions League & tons of records everywhere. They also have the veteran Edinson Cavani who too is a proven goal-scorer and a very experienced and successful player. Then they have the young Mason Greenwood who can break any defenses and score an absolute peach of a goal from absolutely out of nowhere. On the right and the left flanks they have Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho, Amad Diallo and some pretty handy young talent too.
Now coming to the middle. Manchester United have the dream pairing of Paul Pogba & Bruno Fernandes who seem to be in the form of their life. Bruno Fernandes has been a revelation ever since he joined the red devils from Sporting Lisbon two years ago. In the 54 Premier League games that Bruno has played in he has 29 goals and 19 assists. These are mind boggling numbers. Then they have of course one of the best and most complete midfielders in Paul Pogba. He has been in sublime form since a while. He also won the best goal award in the recently conducted Euros. He already had 5 assists to his name in the first two games of the season for Manchester United. A premier league record that might never be broken. Then they have Fred and Scott Mctominay who are the workhorses of the team and do all the running and also do the defensive duties and also help while attacking. Then they have the experience in their ranks from the likes of Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and the very talented and young Donny Van de Beek from Netherlands. They have quality, experience and some sublime talent in their ranks in their mid-field.
Now coming to what has been the achilles heel for Manchester United. Yep. You guessed it right. D-E-F-E-N-S-E. Well, have you heard the adage that if you turn your weaknesses into one of your top strengths you really become invincible. Well, that's what they have done. After the signing of Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, United now boast of one of the best defences in Europe. Varane is a World Cup winner and a 4 time champions league winner too. The Experience he brings to their side is just priceless. At the centre back position now, United will have Varane and Maguire holding the ranks and they would have back ups in the form of Victor Lindelof, Eric Baily, Axel Tuanzebe. At the left back position they have Luke Shaw who seems to be in the form of his life, they also have the very talented Brazilian Alex Telles as a back-up option. In the right back position, United have Aron Van Bisaka who is another very talented and world class right back and has made a name for himself in the premier league in a very small amount of time. And they have Dalot as a very sustainable and worthy back up for him.
Even on the goalkeeping front, United have the problem of plenty to choose from. They have two world class goalkeepers in David De Gea and Dean Henderson both of whom could be played at any moment, at any stage and at any match. So United’s Squad looks set and bolstered and they could easily be one of the favourites to win at least one of the two titles: Champions League or The Premier League.
Goalkeepers (4): David De Gea (Spain / 30), Dean Henderson (England / 24), Tom Heaton (England / 35), Lee Grant (England / 38)
Defenders (9): Raphael Varane (France / 28), Harry Maguire (28 / England), Victor Lindelof (Sweden / 27), Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast / 27), Phil Jones (England / 29), Luke Shaw (England / 26), Alex Telles (Brazil / 28), Aaron Wan-Bissaka(England / 23), Diogo Dalot (Portugal / 22)
Midfielders (8): Nemanja Matic (Serbia / 33), Paul Pogba (France / 28), Scott McTominay (Scotland / 24), Fred (Brazil / 28), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands / 24), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal / 26), Jesse Lingard (England / 28), Juan Mata(Spain / 33)
Forwards (8): Marcus Rashford (England / 23), Jadon Sancho (England / 21), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / 36), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay / 34), Anthony Martial (France / 25), Daniel James (England / 23), Mason Greenwood (England / 19), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast / 19)
