Manchester United lost their head scout over the summer, with Javier Ribalta choosing to switch Old Trafford for Zenit after just one year in the job.
Now, the Spaniard has lifted the lid on his time working with Jose Mourinho, while naming two midfielders that he was urging United to sign.
None came to fruition, but both would certainly have been brilliant pieces of business, particularly on free transfers.
‘For my time in Manchester, I was only there for a year but I’d have liked to sign Emre Can and Leon Goretzka on free transfers,’ Ribalta told Tuttosport, per The Metro.
Let’s start with Can. Perhaps the more difficult of the two options due to his Liverpool allegiance. There is absolutely no way he’d want to upset the Anfield faithful by joining a direct rival on a free, so United was probably the only club out of the question for him.
Goretzka is brilliant. He’d have been perfect for this team in a trio alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba.
However, we have to be honest with ourselves. Bayern Munich are in a far better situation than us right now, plus he’s German, staying at home always gave the Bavarians an advantage.
Both would have been significant upgrades on what we have, but to hear that the club didn’t even try to make their moves for the pair is disappointing. Although they’re different types of players, either would have been a better option than spending £52million on Fred in my opinion.
Heck, this could well have been a contributing factor as to why Ribalta chose to step down.
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