Daley Blind had a solid game as the Netherlands ended their World Cup campaign on a high.
Daley Blind was reverted to perhaps his more natural position of left-back by Louis van Gaal as the Netherlands ensured their World Cup campaign ended on a high against hosts Brazil.
Blind was solid defensively and bagged a very smart finish as the Dutch ensured they finished in third place, leaving Brazilian fans booing at the end of the game having seen their side comprehensively beaten in back-to-back matches.
Blind could be a great signing for Manchester United for various reasons with the main one being he’s able to play two roles in a team effectively.
With Luke Shaw signed up and Patrice Evra staring at a trip to Italy, Blind can give LvG another left-back option, meaning he’d have two top quality defenders in that position in his back four.
Blind is also capable of playing a gritty and determined role in front of the back four as a holding player.
He started the World Cup in that position, roaming the space between the defence and the central midfielders to ensure the opposition didn’t have a great deal of free time in possession.
It’s a role which isn’t filled in the current Manchester United team despite Michael Carrick’s clever positional player and Marouane Fellaini’s physical presence.
Several pundits have commented that United’s midfield is lacking a player who offers an authoritative presence in front of the back four, which Blind is capable of providing.
Should United now go after a move with van Gaal shortly to take up his role with the Premier League giants, Ajax won’t make it easy as the 24-year-old is one of their best long term prospects.
Reports have suggested a potential fee of around £12.5 million, which United would certainly have no problems affording.
Here’s what Manchester United fans made of his performance against Brazil via Twitter.
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