---
title: "Manchester United: Mario Mandzukic not a long-term solution for United, says ESPN pundit"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-mario-mandzukic-not-a-long-term-solution-for-united-says-espn-pundit/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-08-08T14:00:47Z"
modified: "2019-08-08T14:00:47Z"
---

# Manchester United: Mario Mandzukic not a long-term solution for United, says ESPN pundit

**ESPN FC pundit Alejandro Moreno has played down the merits of Manchester United making a move for Mario Mandzukic – with the club reportedly in talks for the Croatian striker.**

Sky Sports [reports](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11667/11779820/mario-mandzukic-manchester-united-open-deadline-day-talks-for-juventus-forward) that Mandzukic is being lined up by United as Romelu Lukaku nears a move to Inter Milan after a fee was agreed earlier this week.

However, Moreno believes that while Mandzukic could benefit United in the short term, he seemed to suggest that having to replace the 33-year-old fairly soon would make the pursuit of the Juventus forward a wasted effort.

He [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL5CzYxkI-M): “I suppose it would make sense, but if you’re Manchester United, I thought the idea was to get younger, athletic players – not to go back in the direction of a guy that can help in the short term – you’re going to have issues in the long term, anyway. I don’t think this is a solution for Manchester United.”

Despite being in his mid-30s, Mandzukic hasn’t exactly lost his goalscoring touch – with totals of 10 in both of the last two seasons at [Juventus](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mario-mandzukic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/34572) in all competitions – and notched [three times](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/top-scorers) in last summer’s World Cup, including in the [semi-final](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44706648) and [final](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44754965), which suggests an appetite for the big games.

But his slightly uninspiring goalscoring record may not give the impression that he can fill the void that Lukaku (who [scored 15](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/top-scorers) last year) looks to be leaving in the near future, and there may be no guarantee of a starting place at Old Trafford, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both amassing goal tallies in [double figures](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/top-scorers) last season.

And while [Alexis Sanchez](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-united/kadernachposition/verein/985) could also play up front (despite his [struggles](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alexis-sanchez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/40433/plus/0?saison=&verein=985&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in front of goal at Old Trafford), perhaps a reshuffle of their current attacking talent would be more appropriate instead of a potentially unnecessary Mandzukic move.