How Much Better Can We Get? - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

I rate Bruno but I just do not think he's that good of a playmaker.

 

Can't help but think Bruno will look back and wonder what on earth he did with his peak years.

I dont think he is amazing, but he has something about him, and in the right team with tactics that support his game, he could really have had a career to shout about.

 

Every time I say it people laugh it off as the hottest of takes but for me Bruno is paradoxically the player who held back United the most in recent years. Hes the player who prevents them to have a fluid and coherent buildup game which is their biggest problem over the years. A posterboy for the boxscore G+A obsession which blinds people from understanding how a player contributes to a holistic team perspective. Yes he scores and assists, but still makes everyone worse for it. The Mbappe of Manchester, or the anti Benzema if you will.

Not saying Pogba would have been better but its just a wrong approach to the game to judge a player by his boxscore stats in a vacuum.

 

His biggest issue is he's not so composed on the ball and always rushes it forward.
You can't build a team around him.

 

100% agreed on Bruno, summarized him perfectly, always thought the exact same. He’s too much of a tactical headache for my liking, doesn’t hold his position, too much Hollywood passes, shoots when he needs to pass, passes when he needs to shoot… he’s a very good complimentary player, not a player you build a top team around basically.

Disagree on Mbappe but that’s your opinion so fair enough.

 

Agreed with the Bruno take. Mbappe disagree as well.

 

As benny said, you just can't build a team around Bruno and expect them to be contenders. He would be a great impact guy to have off the bench, but hes always been horrible influence on any team chemistry.

Its easier to forgive Mbappe for being just a stats player because he plays forward so he has less responsibilities in the buildup. But when out of the big three (defending, buildup, scoring) you do only one (scoring) its always going to have a net negative effect on the team. You can only score as much in the end.

 

Agree with this a lot. Rodrygo at RW is not worth missing out on 100M plus a potential CM signing which is our biggest weakness right now. Teams that would've spent that much probably would've done so earlier in the window but seems like City and Liverpool already got their attack signings done, maybe Bayern goes for him now with Sane gone.

 

Great points. We have good midfielders who seem to need a technical/tactical leader. Jude, Fede, Cama, Tchou are all very good in their own right, but they seem to be top quality pieces you put around a "brain".

Either Xabi finds a way to play differently, we help Arda become that guy or we sign a top midfielder in that mould.

Our midfield is very young, I wonder if the move isn't to sign an experienced player at cm. Someone who's already the finished product and ready to lead from day one.

 

Same

 

Quite a throwback for me - 2014 was the first summer I was on this forum, and I was insistent that we go after Pogba. Getting Kroos and James worked out better though!

 

yeah...not a long list.. I would LOVE Barella...Kimmich...Rodri....if Frenkie wasn't at Barca....

If we sign it'll probably be a young up and coming midfielder.

 

We missed on Sučić who signed for Inter for 14M€ + add ons.That guy will make it on big stages soon.

 

Barella does not belong in that list. He is a pure box-to-box midfielder. An inferior Valverde if you will.

 

Maybe you weren't here when nearly everyone could not wait to replace Luka, Toni and Case with the physical Cama, Tchou and Fede, so we could overrun all comers in the midfield, back then i said be careful what you wish for,

Even recently there was all the talk about some mids being "run into the ground" because they had to "run for two players" due to the fact that Toni was playing in the midfield, how times have changed, now we are even reading about mids covering for FB's who aren't that great without the ball, the idea of having to "run for two players" seems to have gone out the window and now it's ok.... (it always was IMO) but, i guess it's all about opinions in the end and of course, opinions can change, it's always interesting to read here.., let's see what Xabi does and how the team shapes up

 

The midfield is always about a mix of qualities.

Three Kroos’s in midfield would be terrible.

One, flanked by Modric and Casemiro, would be unbeatable for three years.

 

1) In the last season the 3 played together Valverde had to play RW in all the important games to make up for their lack of legs, and like it or not they're gone now.
2) Nobody is saying that, they all have to run and fight together.
It's all about how the players complement one-another on the pitch.

 

Arda will have CM role, it seems.

________

🚨 Arda Güler: “Xabi Alonso? I feel more important because he talks to me all the time.

I feel good with him because he likes to control the tempo, wants more short passes, and sees me as a midfielder, and that’s better for me.” @diarioas pic.twitter.com/VKYHI2w8i7

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 21, 2025

Arda Güler: “Xabi Alonso? I feel more important because he talks to me all the time.

I feel good with him because he likes to control the tempo, wants more short passes, and sees me as a midfielder, and that’s better for me.” @diarioas

🚨 Xabi Alonso: “Arda Güler? I've spoken with him and I want him close to the ball. He's a special player and always helps the team play. He has an impact.” pic.twitter.com/EUVkOaRzt4

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 21, 2025

Xabi Alonso: “Arda Güler? I've spoken with him and I want him close to the ball. He's a special player and always helps the team play. He has an impact.”

 

A heavy pressing system like his will probably require early subs and constant rotation, it's probably a good idea to convince his squad they are all important as they very likely might up being so.

Even more importantly, Xabi ain't getting replacements if players get hurt so he might be forced to play fringe players anyways.

 

Arda was also asked by Kiyan Sobhani if he preferred playing RW or MF. Guler immediately answered midfield because he gets more touches. So I believe Xabi and Arda have an understanding there.