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Manchester United have continually been linked with defensive reinforcements owing to the fact that both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are out of contract in the summer. The latest name to be linked with a move to Manchester United is Bayern Munich’s imposing center back Dante, and here’s a look at three reasons why this move would be a good idea.
1. Aerial ability
Manchester United have been exposed time and again this season in wider areas, and have failed to prevent crosses from coming in. They have relied heavily on their center backs and their aerial dominance to clear the ball. Bayern Munich’s Brazilian center back fits this mold perfectly. At 6’2” tall, Dante is a commanding presence in the back line, and his strength lies in coming forward to win headers and prevent attacks from happening.
His numbers are very good, in terms of headers won- this season he has won 41 of the 68 headers he has attempted in the league (60% success), while it was 68 out of 95 (72% success) last season. He is also a big threat from set pieces, and scored one goal last season, while making one assist a piece in the last two seasons. With the physical attributes to succeed in the physicality of the Premier League, Dante should be able to seamlessly slot into the United defence.
2. Good footballing head
While his aerial dominance has gained him plaudits, his intelligence on the ball has often been overlooked. Dante, like all Brazilians, is comfortable on the ball and is a good passer at the back. He generally keeps it simple at the back for Bayern, feeding the outstanding midfield players that grace the pitch for the Bavarians, and is confident in possession even when being pressed- Nemanja Vidic has often been caught napping with the ball at his feet.
His passing accuracy numbers are outstanding- he has passing accuracies of 91% for both last season and this one, and he is able to play a mix of passes, be it with his head, or wither foot. His ability of picking out a player with a long ball is pretty good- 76% accuracy this season and 81% accuracy last season. This may serve United pretty handy, especially considering they have pacy attackers who like to chase down long balls when counterattacking.
3. Replacement for Vidic
Most good central defensive partnerships are formed by a pair with complimenting characteristics. Vidic had the aerial presence and went ahead to clear balls while Ferdinand had the more cultured approach and mopped up behind Vidic. This combination served United well over the last 4-5 years, but with Ferdinand on the brink of retirement, and Vidic’s contract situation unresolved, Dante might be the perfect replacement for the big Serbian.
Dante has similar attributes to Vidic- he is dominant in the air and looks to come forward to intercept play and make clearances, and would almost be a like for like replacement. However, with his comfort on the ball, he could equally comfortably slot into the Ferdinand role if need be, i.e. he’d be comfortable playing with any of United’s other center backs. At 30, he may not have many years left in him, but he has enough experience at the top level to fill the gap that will be created by the two experienced campaigners.
