da leao： Reports yesterday revealed that Manchester United are considering repairing their leaking backline with a sunning £40m move for Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi. There’s no doubt that Louis van Gaal needs to do something about his rearguard in January, with week in/week out presence of Tyler Blackett testament to the lack of top quality options at the heart of his defence.
da dobrowin： So, is Otamendi the right man? Well he’s a solid and dependable enforcer who has impressed with Porto, winning league titles and European honours. But let’s delve below the surface and find out a few things you may not know about the South American…
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CLICK ON THE MAN HIMSELF TO REVEAL THE SIX THINGS
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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
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He’s a Football Manager icon
If you don’t already know the name and you played Football Manager from 2010 onwards then your scouting has been below par! The Argentine is an absolute beast on the legendary PC game, with his defensive attributes and low cost (£5m-£10m if you were lucky in FM 2010) making him a quick fix for any moderately sized club.
It seems the makers of the fiendishly addictive disk were spot on once again, with Otamendi having lived up to the hype in real life.
He can play at right-back
Although a centre-back by trade, Otamendi has proven in the past that’s he’s able to shift across the backline and fill in on the right flank. He may not be a dynamic wing-back, but his robust frame and reading of the game mean he could be an upgrade on the often naïve Rafael.
He can also function well as a member of a defensive three – which may be of use to Louis van Gaal – while there has been talk of fielding Otamendi in a defensive midfield role, where he would offer more of a shield than Daley Blind.
Chelsea & Man City are interested
It’s not just Manchester United who are watching Otamendi, with reports having been circulating since last year that both City and Chelsea are interested. The Londoners are thought to have been scouting him for some time, with rumours having suggested that Jose Mourinho’s close ties with Porto – whom he used to play for – had set up a first option deal. City were also tracking the South American at the same time, but with the purchase of Elaiquim Mangala their desire to land him is now unknown.
He’s a full Argentine international
Argentina is a country known for its production line of decent defenders, which bodes well for Otamendi. The 26-year-old made his full debut in 2009 and has since won 16 caps, with the competition levels within the squad having limited his chances.
The rugged enforcer missed out on a spot in the 2014 World Cup squad, but he was present four years earlier in South Africa, where he put in a noteworthy performance against Greece.
He’s a little bit like David Luiz…
Well, he’s more of, to keep the Chelsea link going, a Luiz / Branislav Ivanovic hybrid. Otamendi is very much a front foot defender, and a player who loves to charge into tackles and move forward. Naturally this style can leave him exposed at times, which could be an issue which will surface now he’s away from Portugal – he’s only been at Valencia for a short time.
Unlike Luiz, Otamendi is fairly defensively responsible, making him a solid and dependable option at the back when on form.
He cost Porto just £3.5m
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With United thinking of triggering his £40m release clause, it’s interesting to note that Porto paid just £3.5m for Otamendi in 2010. The Portuguese giants’ scouting network is known for producing results, and the sale of the Argentine on the back three league titles and Europa League success for £10m was yet another piece of great business.