Why Manchester United must avoid signing Lucas Paqueta
For a club of Manchester United’s stature, it is quite common to be linked with a host of players. The most recent name to join the list is that of Lucas Paqueta. According to a report by The Metro, United have entered the race to sign Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
Paqueta is a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Brazilian side Flamengo. He came through the club’s youth ranks and at the age of 18, won the 2016 Copa São Paulo de Júniores title, which is the most important youth tournament in Brazil. As a result, he was promoted to the Flamengo senior team, signing a contract until 2020. In the same year, he made his senior debut in a 3-1 win over Bangu.
In his first full season at the club, he made 10 starts in the league but could only score 1 goal. However, the ongoing season has been a better one for the youngster. He has already made 21 starts in the campaign and scored 6 goals, thus helping his team remain on the fourth spot in the table. But it’s not just his goals that have the caught United’s eye; it is his underlying stats.
In the 21 games he has played this season, he recorded a pass accuracy of 85%. As the season progressed, he started getting into better positions and is unafraid to shoot. He has had a whopping 27 shots on target so far, with a shot accuracy of 54%. But at the same time, he has made 1.42 key pass per game and already has 6 assists to his name.
Also, unlike other attacking midfielders, he doesn’t shy away from his defensive duties. He has successfully completed 42 tackles, made 24 interceptions and racked up 37 clearances, numbers that would make any defensive midfielder proud. His recent rise didn’t go unnoticed by Tite as he was handed his first Brazilian cap in the recent friendly against the USA.
But the question is will he fit into Manchester United?
At the moment, United have a plethora of players who can play as a No.10 in a 4-3-3 formation. If he makes a switch to the Theatre of Dreams, Paqueta would have to battle it out with the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial.
The Premier League is the most physical league in the world and it might turn out to be a bridge too far for the 21-year-old. United have been burnt in the past by signing unproven South American players like Anderson, who couldn’t adapt to English football.
Paqueta, without a shadow of a doubt, is a great talent but it would best serve United to scout the player for a bit longer and monitor how his career progresses. Jose Mourinho and Manchester United have other areas that need strengthening for now.
