Man Utd given glowing Goncalo Ramos reference by Benfica coach Roger Schmidt

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 8 Mar 2023 09:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos is one of the players who has been touted as a summer transfer option for Manchester United, and he underlined his credentials to play for the Red Devils on Tuesday with a blistering display against Club Brugge.

The 21-year-old created Rafa’s opener in the second leg of the tie before netting goals two and three in a 5-1 home rout, which carried the in-form Portuguese side into the quarter-finals via a 6-1 victory over their Belgian rivals.

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane of Tottenham have both been linked with a potential move to Man Utd in the summer, but will cost well in excess of €100 million – if either deal if possible at all.

MORE: Weghorst apologises to Man Utd fans after Liverpool sign blunder

Ramos, meanwhile, has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €38.6m and is considered to be a more attainable target.

Benfica boss Roger Schmidt, meanwhile, gave the Portugal international a glowing reference that would have impressed Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag.

Speaking after the Brugge victory, Schmidt explained: “I love Goncalo, not just for his goals. His attitude is excellent, he scores goals but really helps with hard, defensive work and knows how to play with the team.”

MORE: Man Utd put brutal clause in new De Gea contract

Ramos perfect for Man Utd

Such comments show that he is a player who ticks all the boxes that Ten Hag loves.

The Dutchman ditched Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench early in the season and then ultimately jettisoned him entirely in November over concerns that he simply does not work hard enough for the team, regardless of his goal scoring qualities.

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) explained

Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world.

Read more here.

Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world. It uses information on the player's skill, potential, performance, contract duration, position and other statistics to estimate an accurate ETV.

Read more here.

In has come Wout Weghorst, a workhorse striker whose attitude cannot be questioned but whose loan from Burnley is unlikely to be extended purely because he lacks the quality of a Manchester United player. One goal in 14 appearances (plus two assists) is testimony to that.

Ten Hag, then, has not found his perfect solution, but in Ramos there is a player who combines both goals and industry, and at 21, he could be a star for Man Utd for the next decade or more.