Ruben Amorim would no doubt benefit from the calibre of an overlooked former Manchester United midfielder who played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old Manchester United manager has been tipped to bring in a new midfielder to Old Trafford ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Ruben Amorim has still been looking for his preferred midfield pairing for the middle of the park in his tactical system at United after his arrival from Sporting CP in 2024.
The former Sporting CP manager was limited with his choices at times in the 2024-25 campaign after injuries to the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer.
Casemiro had a career resurgence under Amorim at Old Trafford in the second half of last season, but the 33-year-old United midfielder isn’t getting any younger.
Amorim also lost United first-team squad depth this summer after former Ajax and Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen left the club after his contract expired.
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim speaks with Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester.
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
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Edgar Davids’ praise for Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Man Utd signing should be a real eye-opener for Ruben Amorim
Edgar Davids had been linked with Manchester United and the 52-year-old former Juventus and Ajax star opened up about his admiration for the Red Devils.
The ex-Netherlands international recalled his experience of crossing paths with former United and England midfielder Paul Ince during his time in Italy.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought Paul Ince to Old Trafford in 1989 from West Ham and the 57-year-old enjoyed a successful period at the Red Devils under the Scotsman.
Ince was a key midfield influence during the 1990s for United and he lifted two Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, the League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
However, legendary ex-United and Aberdeen manager Ferguson and Ince shared a volatile relationship with one another during their time together at Old Trafford.
“I mean it’s really, how you say, that I look differently at United,” Edgar Davids told MUTV, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“Because, you know, I already watched Manchester United as they had a player I really liked – Paul Ince.
“He was a midfielder who was unbelievable. I also played against him, when he played for Inter and I played for Milan.
“He was a big boy then and it was a really amazing derby. Him against Marcel Desailly, who was a big boy too, and that was like a big battle in the midfield.”
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Could Ruben Amorim already have an answer to Paul Ince and enjoy the same benefits that Sir Alex Ferguson did?
Paul Ince’s fractured relationship with Red Devils legend Ferguson saw the former England and United midfielder sold to Inter Milan in 1995 for a £7.5m transfer fee.
The ex-Inter Milan and Liverpool player was a workhorse in midfield and is often held in high regard by his former United teammates, including Roy Keane.
Ince showed his incredible engine in his prime and was able to provide a much-needed layer of protection for the defence in his midfield role under Ferguson.
Amorim was reunited with Manuel Ugarte after working with the former United midfielder at Sporting CP and the verdict is still out on the Uruguayan’s role.
Manuel Ugarte arrived at Old Trafford last summer from Paris Saint-Germain and the 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder had a mixed debut season at the Red Devils.
Amorim appeared reluctant to use Ugarte more often near the end of last season, but the United midfielder is a pure workhorse when he is played in the system.
The United manager could possibly look at shaping the Uruguay international into an Ince-esque player and yield the midfield rewards that it could bring for him.