Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has urged the Red Devils to sign Ronald Araujo from Barcelona.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Manchester United should look to sign Uruguayan international Ronald Araujo from Barcelona, claiming he is an “unreal defender”.
Ferdinand said, “The Uruguayan boy at Barcelona – Araujo. Whether he’s gettable or not, I think he’s brilliant. He’s an unreal centre-half. He has every attribute to be perfect for the Premier League. I’d probably say he’s the standout, but whether he’s gettable or not, I don’t know.”
The Red Devils have been quite vulnerable defensively this season, and they have already conceded 13 goals in 11 matches across all competitions. It will be interesting to see if Manchester United decide to dip into the transfer market for a central defender in January.
Harry Maguire has been linked with a move away from the club, and they will have to replace the England international adequately. Maguire has struggled for regular game time at Old Trafford and should move on in search of regular playing time. With Euro 2024 coming up next summer, the 30-year-old needs to play more often to cement his place in the England starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Araujo has been a key player for Barcelona, and it remains to be seen whether the Spanish giants are prepared to sanction his departure any time soon. The 24-year-old central defender is versatile enough to operate as a right-back, and he could be an asset for the Red Devils in the near future.
He is likely to improve further with coaching and experience. Araujo has all the attributes to develop into a world-class player. Manchester United certainly have the financial resources to pay big money for the player, and it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are the only reliable central defenders at the club right now. However, Martinez is currently sidelined until late November with a metatarsal injury. Manchester United must look to address their defensive problems if they want to challenge for trophies this season.
They have made a mediocre start to the current campaign and will need to bounce back strongly. Signing the right players in January will help them get their season back on track.
