Neville insists Amrabat transfer would address Man Utd issue evident vs Wolves

15 August 2023 , 08:27

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Gary Neville was highly critical of Manchester United (Image: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville believes the signing of Sofyan Amrabat would prevent Manchester United midfielder Casemiro from getting "absolutely torn to shreds" like he did against Wolves.

Casemiro and his midfield team-mates, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, "got ripped apart" during a chaotic Red Devils performance, as they scraped past Wolves with an unconvincing 1-0 victory to get their Premier League campaign off to a winning but also concerning start. Their unbalanced midfield gave ex-captain Neville food for thought and in his opinion demonstrated why United boss Erik ten Hag has been pursuing Morocco international Amrabat.

Ten Hag worked with the Fiorentina star at former club Utrecht and it's being reported that the Red Devils will launch an offer once Donny van de Beek's future is decided. Amid interest from Premier League rivals West Ham - who recently made a bid which was rejected by Fiorentina - Neville has suggested that United have already missed a trick by not having Amrabat, 26, signed in time to face Wolves, who dominated in midfield on Monday and were unfortunate to come away from Old Trafford with a defeat.

"One thing he's not going to do is go back to the Fred and McTominay style of midfield because they can't play the ball properly," the ex-Red Devils right-back began on Sky Sports. "He wants everybody on that pitch to be able to play the ball his way.

"What I will say is Amrabat could come in and play alongside Casemiro, perhaps give him some help. Look, he got absolutely torn to shreds tonight Casemiro, Manchester United's midfield were non-existent, they got ripped apart by Wolves."

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Neville went on to explain: "Last season when they got emptied in midfield, they moved Fernandes forward and ended up putting Fred or McTominay in alongside Casemiro to be more solid. He wants to get away from that and that's why he has signed Mason Mount. But I think in certain games he will be forced to bring another midfielder in to play alongside Casemiro to handle the ball."

Have your say! Should Manchester United sign Sofyan Amrabat? Join the debate in the comments section.

Sofyan Amrabat remains a Fiorentina player with just over two weeks until transfer deadline day (Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Even when United brought on Christian Eriksen in place of new signing Mount, the experienced Dane wasn't able to control the game from midfield as he so often does. Ten Hag's side eventually rode their luck to pick up all three points, with the Red Devils manager admitting that his side "could be better."

"We gave away too many easy giveaways," Ten Hag bemoaned post-match. "That was not good. But you have to get into the season and we will improve on that fact. When you see giveaways, then you give them the opportunity to counter and then you have to follow [them].

"But I think we matched the runs and we dealt with it. The clean sheet, that tells [you] everything, and that we, again, have been here in Old Trafford and we have a clean sheet, which is good. Now we have to be better on the ball."

Nathan Ridley