We saw how Manchester United were highly reliant on Bruno Fernandes for creative aspects of the game in the last season, and this is definitely something that Ruben Amorim would want to change going into the next campaign, and this is where the Manchester Red’s links with a move for Brahim Diaz suddenly make sense.
The Premier League heavyweights have been linked with a move to sign the Manchester City academy graduate from Real Madrid in the ongoing summer transfer window as minutes at Santiago Bernabeu look set for Diaz, per Fichajes.
We saw him take massive strides under Pioli before he started balling for Madrid, and now he has quietly gone on to become one of the most tactically adaptable attackers at Real Madrid while playing in the hybrid system that Carlo Ancelotti implemented at the club.
But given his scarce minutes, this opens up an opportunity for Manchester United to pounce on a Champions League-experienced player that has the capacity to play in a quite tactically mature role at M16 despite Xabi Alonso taking charge of proceedings at Madrid.
What does Brahim Diaz bring to M16?
He is a tactically versatile player given how he can play in a #10 role while also slotting in as a right wing or maybe even as a false 9 in a narrow front three. He is also excellent for possession-based systems and is a threat on the break.
Under Ancelotti, he was used as an interior channel runner, but if I am to think about Amorim and the 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 system that the Portuguese plays at Old Trafford, then Diaz has that ability to invert from wide and combine in tight spaces. You can also have him occupy zone 14, where the two attacking midfielders (behind the striker) have to drift and combine and rotate fluidly.
He is someone who is absolutely elite when it comes to ball-carrying ability given how he can receive under pressure, turn and drive given his low centre of gravity, and this will be vital at Old Trafford given how he has struggled to progress the ball upfield cleanly.
Having Diaz in the side also allows Amorim to bypass those second-phase presses (much like how Pedro Gonçalves did at Sporting by linking midfield and attack).
Talking about pressing of Diaz himself, he likes to play in structured high presses with the ball given how he can time his press well to force a poor pass, which a teammate can capitalise on, while he also has that anticipation to intercept in advanced zones.
Ruben Amorim and Tyrell Malacia
Manchester United are ready to battle Arsenal and AC Milan to sign Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz during the summer transfer window.
Strengths
He is press resistant himself and has that two-footed attacking ability, and his intelligence allows him to operate in multiple roles.
Weaknesses
He can get easily isolated when the system around him is not working, and given his height and frame, Diaz does not bring that aerial threat to the side.
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Author Opinion: Diaz is Amorim’s Perfect 10.5
Brahim Diaz looks like the perfect type of flexible and system-compliant player that Amorim will like in his squad, given how he has that Catalan technical training (obtained under Pep at City), tactical awareness that he got at Madrid, and Milanese toughness, and this is an unusual combination in the current market that has the capacity to improve Manchester United’s midfield-to-attack immediately.
In a summer where most clubs are looking to add wingers and strikers, United should zag when they zig and pursue one of the best hybrid creators on offer in world football and that so for a limited investment when directly compared to marquee names.
I do think that United must go all out for Brahim Diaz.