Five better options than the Barca full-back.
With Manchester United strongly linked with a summer move for Dani Alves next season, CaughtOffside looks at five players who could make better additions than the 31-year-old Brazilian, who now looks past his best despite a superb career at the top level.
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It is also arguable that Alves has never been the hardest worker defensively, which would perhaps be punished more often at the top level of English football than in La Liga, where Barca have strolled to success at times with little in the way of competition in Spain.
United should definitely consider other possibilities for the right-back spot, instead of being tempted by the big name, and here’s our pick of five who they should sign instead:
5) Seamus Coleman (Everton)
A superb attack-minded right-back, Everton’s Seamus Coleman has recently been linked with both United and Chelsea after his fine displays at Goodison Park. The Republic of Ireland international has his best years ahead of him and would surely make a better signing than Alves at this stage.
4) Juan Zuniga (Napoli)
A superbly versatile player, Napoli’s Juan Zuniga could provide cover at right-back, left-back and centre-back, making him a more useful signing than the one-dimensional Alves to bolster Louis van Gaal’s options in defence.
3) Adriano (Barcelona)
Alves’ Barcelona team-mate, Adriano could also be a better option for United to consider, with the Brazilian showing plenty of promise at the Nou Camp despite never quite managing to establish himself as a regular in the side. Recent health problems may be a concern, but Adriano is a hard worker with great ability going forward from either right-back or left-back.
2) Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan)
An outstanding Italian prospect, AC Milan full-back Mattia De Sciglio has been linked strongly with Arsenal in the past, though a move to the Premier League never transpired. Still, United should seriously look at the talented 21-year-old, who has made great progress in his last few years in the Milan first-team.
1) Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina)
Not exactly the same kind of player as Alves, but one United have looked at before as an option to come in and play wing-back in a 3-5-2, Juan Cuadrado is quite simply an extraordinary talent. The Colombian winger has been linked with a whole host of top clubs in recent months, Barcelona included as they eye a replacement for Alves, but the Red Devils should do everything they can to snap him up.