Louis Van Gaal will be busy in the aisles of the summer transfer market but the players he will leave the store with are still products of mere speculation. Robert Kenedy, the young Fluminese striker who is in no way related to any President, is the Dutch manager’s latest target. Kenedy is the best South American talent to have attracted the attention of many European clubs this season. The 19-year old has displayed great class in this past campaign.
Robert Kenedy – Strengths and Weaknesses
Kenedy is a product of Fluminese’s youth academy and has been impressive despite failing to regularly start for the first team. He has come off the bench 18 times this season and has scored spectacular goals like the ones against Bahia in May and Cruzeiro in September. He has a strong left foot and cuts in from the left side of the box. Kenedy likes to play on the wing where he can best use his pace and dribbling skills to beat defenders but he has also been deployed in central roles during the course of the campaign. He has an unique set of skills to adapt to that role as well. Kenedy’s physicality betrays his tender age. He is very strong for his age and taps into it while running through the middle of the pitch.
Kenedy is definitely a buy for the future and Louis Van Gaal will have to help him improve many areas of his game. The Brazilian has a very weak right foot which is an obvious disadvantage in many situations. He also lacks in defensive capabilities and more often than not leaves the full back exposed. But he has age on his side and strong footballing foundations. The Brazilian way of playing is ingrained in him. He is a confident footballer who is not afraid of any opponent or the occasion of playing on the big stage.
How can Manchester United use him?
A Brazilian striker who is fast, strong and creative. Van Gaal should be opportunistic and invest time and money into the development of his youngster. The Dutchman’s faith in Adnan Januzaj seems slightly misplaced after the Belgian stopped packing a punch in his performances. If United succeed in acquiring his signature he will undoubtedly be sent on a brief loan period to get himself acquainted with the English game.
Manchester United have guaranteed themselves a shot at European football next season. Kenedy will gain experience playing in the toughest competition in the world. He will not get any more game time at United than he has been getting at Fluminese but the quality of the opposition will be a self-teaching lesson.
The U20 Championships which took place in Brazil earlier this year set the stage for big clubs like Inter Milan and Chelsea to throw their hat into the race for Kenedy. Such interest is a testimony to the talent kenedy has to offer. He will surely be a great addition to Manchester United and the Premier League.