Gossip: United eye Benfica ace

November 05, 2009

UNITED have been linked with a swoop for Benfica star Angel Di Maria in a bid to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be at Goodison Park to watch the Argentinian in action against Everton in the Europa League, report the Daily Mirror.

Ahead of the game Di Maria said: “I want to do my best for the club this season and then we will see what happens."

Di Maria, 21, impressed when Benfica beat Everton 5-0 in the first leg and he is highly rated by his national coach Diego Maradona.

Although Antonio Valencia has made a steady start to his Old Trafford career, Zoran Tosic has failed to make a first team impact and Nani's mercurial form has frustrated fans.

Should United go for another winger? Have your say.

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Tone Pearce (05/11/2009 at 09:58)

Is he left or right footed?

Cyprus Red, Cyprus (05/11/2009 at 10:00)

There must be some underlying problem with Tosic that we are unaware of. I have only personally seen him a couple of times playing for his country but was impressed on both occasions but others on here have seen him more often and also seem to be impressed. I also thought that Obertan looks to be a very good prospect so don't understand the need for yet another winger. Is this just talk I wonder?

Horace Hughes, Salford (05/11/2009 at 10:03)

We have bought 4 wingers in the last 2 years 1 doesnt even get a chance in the first team, although he is a full international, 2 have only just joined, and the other is an enigma, in that he started well 2 seasons ago, but has steadily got worse! If Di Maria knows this, do you think he would sign! Why we looking at wingers when up front, the midfield, defence, and goalkeepre situation all need addressing.

Monkey tennis?, yes please (05/11/2009 at 10:05)

Sounds like another punt to me, and not something that is needed. With the relatively poor results of previous wingers we've bought (nani, valencia, tosic) we should either stick with what we've got, or offload some and get someone who is tried and tested at the highest level (who? i hear you ask - absolutely no idea!)

Horace Hughes, Salford (05/11/2009 at 10:08)

Why are we buying yet another winger? Fergie has already bought 4 in in the last couple of years. 1 doesnt get a chance, although he is a full international. 2 have only just joined. the other is an enigma, started well but gets steadily worse! We need to strengthen the attack, centre midfield, centre defence, and the goalie situation first. Unless he is going to sell Nani and/or Tosic I cant see this happening. Would Di Maria come here if he knew how many wingers we have?

Midfield General (05/11/2009 at 10:14)

Lefy, and pacy. He looked superb against everton, for what thats worth.
We have Tosic, Nani and Obertan. We need to sell one or two of them first!

http://en.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=16/newsid=912066.html

Lets buy Hamsik - he is superb. He scored two to inspire a 3-2 comeback win over Juve. His second goal a very tidy finish through a crowded penalty area. This kid scores, creates and gets stuck in. He works hard and inspires others. He could become a legend, but will it be with United?

Xmas list for Malcolm:

Aguero
Hamsik

PS - Anyone else seent the quality of Falcao at Porto? Another early summer tip from me, and I watched Porto sign him for around 5mil. He is a fine player and still learning. He will go for 20-30mil to a top club within 2 years. Yes, T+C, he would have improved us, much like my other two picks above.!

Midfield General (05/11/2009 at 10:27)

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=104427&cc=5901

Look at those stats, for a 22 yr old midfielder in Serie A. Sign him!!

Gilly, Belgium (05/11/2009 at 10:27)

Another one , he is a good player , but we then need to off load some of our mediochore ones , dont we ?

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (05/11/2009 at 10:38)

Oh no, not another winger, not another Argie. Maybe we're just indirectly pushing up the asking price for Nani? Or signalling that a bid for Nani should be made now!

jerzy (05/11/2009 at 10:48)

midfield general; your xmas shopping is 'dead on' the perfect pair for us.
Hamsik would be the real ace though!

Fredrik, Sweden (05/11/2009 at 10:49)

Nani's days at OT must surely be numbered, Tosic hasn't impressed so far, Park is injured and not really a winger, Obertan is a rough diamond but can he get his act together and perform at top level, which Blanc doubted?

So we definately need a left-sided winger, no doubt about it. So why didn't we do for Robben who is clearly superior to Di Maria and any of our present wingers? Was SAF too proud?

I wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of swap involving Nani.

Django, Hampshire (05/11/2009 at 10:55)

Isn't the squad big enough already? There is plenty of dead wood to get rid of before more acquisitions. The recruitment system has been turning up more duds than gems for some time now.

Let's try to sort out the quality control there before more dubious purchases waste more funds and clutter up still further a bloated structure where too many average performers are competing to show they can't cut it at the highest level.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (05/11/2009 at 10:59)

Would rather have a proper goal scoring forward in the fit saha mould,a central midfielder in the fabregras mould and defensive cover in the vidic mould before we waste more money on wingers

bobbydazzler (05/11/2009 at 11:12)

horace salford

i would prefer to see us playing 4-3-3 as it has been the bedrock of our success in the last 3 years.

the wingers that we have got are not top notch and playing with two in central midfield does not work for me especially against the stronger sides as we also lack real quality there.

we need top notch CENTRE FORWARD
we need 2 top notch central midfielders
we need a top notch left sided defender
we need a top notch goalkeeper to replace vds

david allen (05/11/2009 at 11:25)

We seem to be 'collecting' wingers. I doubt if any of them will ever be able to replace Park!!!!!!!

Red Rob (West Lower) (05/11/2009 at 11:27)

Monkey Tennis - "poor results" of Valencia?? You're going to have to justify that comment please!

What would you like him to have achieved by now? A Hat-trick every match? a knighthood? A number one single?

tooth&claw, manchester (05/11/2009 at 11:31)

Midfield General, I saw Hamsik as a U-17 player and I watch Napoli now and then because I still have friends there. He's skillful but I feel he's a bit lightweight. Good player but I'd have concerns over whether he could handle the Premiership.

Aguero I don't rate anywhere near the valuations being bandied about. He brings some baggage too. I don't think he's likely to be the subject of a United bid but you never know. I'd rate him lower than Rooney or Berbatov, so if we stick to 4-4-2 he'd see a lot of the bench.

Falcao and di Maria are playing in a pretty weak league. Technically both are fine but you'd need to see them playing against better teams on a regular basis to judge them. Our record of purchases from Portugese teams isn't perfect for that reason.

Anyway, wingers and strikers aren't our priority, imo. It's defenders we need.

Manchester United- the team despised by most Mancunians and the majority of football fans., Tick tock, not long now. (05/11/2009 at 11:47)

I thought Valencia was bought to replace Ronaldo, or was it Oberton?

Redraw, Belfast (05/11/2009 at 11:47)

Excuse me ahum ahum,

Just buy Silva and shut up, simple as that.

jason william hill, gosport (05/11/2009 at 11:49)

we need 2 central midfielders,and striker, options gourcuff of bordeaux,hamsik of napoli,looks like fergie will go for steven defour from standard liege in summer based on him sending standard the letter wishing defour all the best recovering from injury,just hope we get one of gourcuff or hamsik as we really need this quality and type of player in midfield, up front dzeko of wolvsburg would be great for us we have to go back to 4 3 3 the season we did double with this system we were at our best,we have ljajic coming in january he plays wide right for partizan so we shouldn't sign a winger as we have a potential top quality player here.

Peter Watson (05/11/2009 at 12:06)

Fergie needs to give Tosic some games rather than just seemingly writing him off. The lad can cut it (and score) for Serbia but can't get a game for United ahead of Nani?

Matthew Savage (05/11/2009 at 12:06)

United consider all options shock horror

Manmohan Singh (05/11/2009 at 12:16)

Milos Krasic and Angel di Maria . Thats the 2 player we need in Jan. Summer must at all cost get Igor Akinfeev.Sell Nani.Retire Scholes.Promote Tosic.

ribery's ankle, Amsterdam (05/11/2009 at 12:17)

All very nice! Is he strong enough!! CR was built like an athlete!! We are in need of strongC-Midf. enforcer!! Anderson cannot do all & with Fletch. injured then we seriuosly miss that factor!
Senna!!...should of got him!!
Lyon looking good - again!!
Allez les Rouges

ribery's ankle, Amsterdam (05/11/2009 at 12:20)

Red Rob (West Lower),well said!
He's adjusted quicker than I expected!!
His goals... thank you Valencia!!
We NEED the others to shoot & hit the net!!

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