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Iker Muniain
Two seasons ago, Iker Muniain was one of the hottest prospects around. At the time Athletic Bilbao were everyone’s favourite team to watch as they brushed aside Manchester United in the Europa League on their way to the final.
The teenage Muniain was instrumental in the Basque club’s road to the final and was often the architect for striker Fernando Llorente. And after helping his side dispatch United 5-3 on aggregate, the inevitable links with the Premier League club soon followed.
However, a move for the Spanish international never materialised and he remains at the San Mames. But, with the cries for a creative midfielder from the Old Trafford faithful, could Muniain be the answer to David Moyes’ creative problems?
Iker Muniain – Chances created (last season)
Muniain endured a difficult 2012/13 season as both he and Bilbao struggled to repeat their heroics of the previous campaign. Despite this, the midfielder created 32 chances during his 33 La Liga appearances.
In comparison, Michael Carrick fashioned 37 chances for his team mates in 36 Premier League games while Tom Cleverley created 19 chances in 22 appearances. Shinji Kagawa created just less than a chance per game with 19 in his 20 appearances.
Iker Muniain – Duels won
Although he may be renowned for his typically Spanish attacking and creative abilities, Muniain doesn’t shirk a challenge, winning 16 of his 23 attempted tackles. The midfielder has also attempted 40 take-ons already this season with a 58% success rate. In contrast Cleverley is yet to attempt a single take on this season.
The youngster also has a modest passing accuracy of 82%, although that figure falls short of the 86% of Carrick and further below the 90% and 88% of Cleverley and Fellani.
Iker Muniain Heat Map v Villarreal
Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has largely used Muniain on the left since he took over from the departing Marcelo Bielsa in the summer. Yet a look the midfielders action areas from Bilbao’s 2-0 win over Villarreal shows that the 20-year-old likes to drift inside. Moyes has attempted to use Danny Wellbeck in a similar role this season to little effect.
Should United reignite their interest in Muniain, they will be sure to get a player who is capable of unlocking defences and adding the creative spark they currently crave. Whether or not he could deal with the pressure of responsibility on his young shoulders is another matter. Muniain is far from the finished article but a move to the Premier League could be what he needs to get his career back on track.
??Football graphics and stats from Squawka???
