The World Cup is not only the biggest football tournament but also one in which even an average player can look like a world-beater, on the back of his performances during the tournament. As a result, players bought on the back of their World Cup performances alone, have a so-so success rate. For every player who is a success, you have at least two more who are unable to replicate their exploits for their new club.
That is certainly one of the reasons why Manchester United’s pursuit of Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado is a little worrying. The 26-year-old Fiorentina winger impressed in the World Cup and finished as the tournament’s leading assist-maker. His performance in Brazil comes on the back of a fantastic domestic season in which he scored 11 League goals and was the main attacking threat for his side. His pace, dribbling and crossing ability make him one of the most sought after wingers in world football right now.
But the question Manchester United fans should be asking themselves is, do they really need him? Does Cuadrado warrant £36million that Fiorentina are demanding? While there is no doubt that the Colombian is versatile, should the Red Devils spend so much on a player who is primarily a right winger, when the current formation has no place for wingers?
The answer to the first question is fairly straight-forward, No. While it is true that the side currently lack the numbers on the right flank, Cuadrado isn’t the sort of player that the club needs at the moment. What United need is a right wing-back, not a winger whose only good season in his career so far was last year. Having played eight different positions last year, Cuadrado is anything, if not versatile, but more often than not, he was essaying the role of a forward or a winger and only once did he play at right back.
While Cuadrado is tactically flexible, playing as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation is a completely different ball game altogether. It requires the player to be solid defensively, while at the same time carry a threat going forward. While Cuadrado’s abilities going forward are undeniable, he hasn’t played as a defender too often and the defensive discipline one needs to succeed as a wing back is something that cannot be taught overnight.
Another reason why this is a bad move is the price being quoted for the player. While there is no doubt that the transfer market is currently inflated, for any player to command a fee in excess of a £30m, he has to be pretty darn good. Unfortunately for Cuadrado, the Colombian hasn’t been all that consistent in his career so far. Over the years, he hasn’t be the player who has turned all eyes towards him and proven himself as a world-beater. Last season was the first time he crossed the 10-goal for a season and if it weren’t for his exploits in the World Cup, not many would be talking about him right now.
Another reason why signing him would be a bad move is the fact that the club already have two wingers, who have proven themselves to be capable of putting in a shift as the right wing-back. The Red Devils are in desperate need of wing backs not wingers, who can occasionally play in defence. Even if the club might require the services of a winger who can play in a 4-3-3 as a Plan B, they already have a player, who has the same blistering pace, acceleration and crossing ability of Cuadrado, albeit with an added advantage of having been at the club for a few years now, to know how every player operates.
As good as this deal might seem on paper, it isn’t one that is going to vastly improve the Red Devils. Signing a player for over £30m on the back of just one good season, smacks of desperation, particularly given the fact that he is essentially a luxury signing. As versatile as Cuadrado is, he simply doesn’t justify his price-tag and signing him would waste a large chunk of the club’s transfer kitty, which could be effectively put to use elsewhere.
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