Florian Plettenberg downplays Manchester United links to Angelo Stiller
Manchester United started against expectations in their Premier League opener on Sunday. The team showed some momentum in the opening minutes, but the balance of play soon tilted in Arsenal’s favour. Altay Bayindir failed to catch a simple corner, and Riccardo Calafiori scored with a header. New signing Benjamin Sesko was then sent into the field, but the equaliser did not happen.
Bryan Mbeumo’s superb bicycle kick went wide, and the header was saved by David Raya. The defeat adds to the pain already felt after the team’s 15th-place finish and Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur last year. The club are now out of Europe and have suffered an early setback in the new season. Meanwhile, the ageing of Casemiro has put the future of the midfield in serious question. Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton were both looked at, but their high price forced United to back off.
Confusion over Angelo Stiller and two different pictures
A new name has now emerged in this summer transfer window—Angelo Stiller. According to some reports, Manchester United have held internal discussions on this 24-year-old midfielder from Stuttgart. Ben Jacobs said that there have been talks within the club, and there is a possibility that the 24-year-old could become an option on the list. However, Jacobs also made it clear that no deal can be guaranteed, and this move will only happen when other avenues are closed.
Florian Plettenberg downplays Manchester United links to Angelo Stiller.
Angelo Stiller (Image Via X)
However, there is another side to this whole matter. Florian Plettenberg has made it clear that Manchester United have no contact with Stiller. He said that there is no such discussion anywhere inside or outside, and no plans have been made. Stuttgart will keep their German defensive midfielder this season, and his contract is still until 2028. Plettenberg also added that Stiller is a top player, but his name being linked with a move to United is just a rumour.
As a player, Stiller is calm with the ball at his feet, and his passing accuracy is good. He understands positional play and prefers to create a controlled midfield rather than aggression, but the German’s physical game is a bit weak, and this weakness can be exposed in the fast and tough competition of the Premier League. In such a situation, the question is whether United should bet on a player who has not yet fully proven his ability at the top level.
As fans, it is natural to wonder whether United should rely on a youngster like Stiller to replace Casemiro or focus on an experienced player who can provide immediate stability. The club should indeed keep the future in mind, but it is not easy to win the Premier League on the basis of prospects alone.
Fans also get confused by getting caught in this turmoil of reports. Ben Jacobs and Florian Plettenberg are completely at odds. It’s hard to know the truth in such situations, and often nothing more than speculation comes out.
As far as strategy is concerned, United’s goal should be clear. Either the club invest in a big, proven player to give the team immediate strength, or focuses on players like Stiller, Baleba and Wharton who can make a big contribution in the future, but both paths cannot go hand in hand. In our opinion, an experienced, proven midfielder is the right way to go in the current situation, as United have absolutely no time to waste. However, currently, we don’t feel like United will get their hands on Stiller this summer, as we are yet to offload multiple out-of-favour players, and time is running out.