Manchester United fans, over the last few days, have been irate that Ander Herrera was allowed to leave while the likes of Ashley Young were offered a contract. Young has been United’s first-choice right-back but has had a miserable season. And now with Antonio Valencia leaving the club, the Red Devils are in search of a new right-back and have shortlisted Juventus’ Joao Cancelo.
The report suggests that the 24-year-old full-back could move away from the Serie A champions in the summer, but only for a price of around €60 million. The Portuguese international signed for Juventus in the summer of 2018 for a price of €40.4 million from Spanish club, Valencia.
United have had struggles in defence this year, with the right full-back and central defensive positions being the major chinks in their armour. Cancelo was linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, but the Portuguese right-back chose Juventus, while United signed another young full-back Diogo Dalot from Porto.
What will Cancelo bring to the table?
The right full-back is a good dribbler with loads of energy who can bomb up and down the right flank, while also being a good crosser of the ball. A solid and reliable defender, Cancelo is quick to turn defence to attack while also making key interceptions, using his pace and positioning to good effect. Technically sound, the right-back is an all-round player who can do a lot of things right, while primarily being an attack-minded full-back.
He can be a serious threat on the right side for United, initiating fast counter attacks and putting in vicious crosses into the box. Cancelo registered 5 assists and scored 1 goal in his first season for Juventus. The Red Devils have used Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot at right full-back this season – the former has been wasteful in attack, while not being defensively solid, while the latter has been exciting when going forward but hasn’t shown consistency, which one would expect from a 20-year-old in his first season at the club.
Cancelo hasn’t been the first-choice right-back in the second half of the season as he has been usurped by Mattia De Sciglio in the Juventus starting eleven, but we could put this down to him having a slump in form rather than him not showing what he’s capable of.