Manchester United have been linked with an interesting move today, with Mundo Deportivo stating the Red Devils have joined the hunt for Barcelona veteran Dani Alves.
The Brazilian international has been confirmed to be on his way out of Catalonia this season, leaving a club where he was won everything he can get his hands on, and United have joined the likes of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of his signature.
Pursuing such a big name is debatable, especially with United struggling in recent years with Victor Valdes, Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, so it’s fair to say that opinions in the bar today are split as to whether United should continue pursuing his signature.
Both sides of the coin have good arguments in their favour, so our landlord decided to leave the decision up to you readers- let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Hit Mourinho below to see two pros and two cons in signing Dani Alves!
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PRO: Experience
Having won every club competition he can get his hands on with Barcelona, including the Club World Cup and Champions League, Alves is a winner who has got it all- so United would welcome a wealth of experience with his arrival.
With so many youngsters in the team, a level and experienced head like Alves’ would certainly come in handy and he would provide a boost both defensively and in attack, as well as becoming the leader in what’s likely to be a very young back-line.
CON: Age
The flip-side of the experience argument, at 33-years-old it’s fair to assume the South American doesn’t have too many years left at the highest level- and the challenges of the Premier League could be too much for a full-back of his age.
His wages would also be extremely high, which although not a problem for the financial might of Manchester United, it would stack up and may shatter the wage structure already in place at Old Trafford. There’s certainly a lot to think about.
PRO: Statement of intent
With Manchester United absent from the Champions League next season, persuading Dani Alves to jump ship and move to England would be a major statement of intent from the Red Devils- and they’d also have an insider who knows Pep Guardiola’s ways.
Defensively, there isn’t too many names bigger than Dani Alves and he’d certainly become the big name in the United back-line. With a nice mix of youth and experience in the back, Manchester United could go a long way if they find the balance.
CON: Transfer record
When it comes to big names, Manchester United haven’t had the best of luck in recent years. Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria and Victor Valdes all flopped in their short stints in Manchester, whilst Memphis Depay has also struggled.
Many may feel Jose Mourinho will improve on that record but his own transfer business isn’t best, with Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic all suffering from second-syndrome season with Chelsea after being superb in their first spell.
