Man Utd and Chelsea urged to sign ‘big-game player’ Marquinhos

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 5 min read

Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that any team in the market for a centre-half this summer should look no further than Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos.

The likes of Ferdinand’s former club Man Utd, and Chelsea have both been linked with several top central defenders across Europe, but the six-time Premier League winner thinks that Marquinhos is the answer to their problems.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand expressed why he loves the Brazilian defender so much, and why everyone should be in for him.

“If any team is in the market for a centre-back, right now, out of the top teams, with the finances, Marquinhos is the only place I’m going,” he said.

“Big-game player. Every big game you see that guy play he turns up.

“Fit as you like, quick, robust, hardened, battle-hardened, understands the big-game environments. Top, top player, great attitude, leader, got it all.

“If I’m looking for a centre-back of experience who can take me to the next level, he’s the one I’m going for.”

What makes Marquinhos so good?

The 26-year-old is now PSG’s captain following Thiago Silva’s departure last summer, and he’s stepped up to the role of leader immensely.

Capable of playing in central defence, or as a defensive midfielder as current Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel often used him during his time at PSG, Marquinhos is not only tactically versatile, but extremely talented.

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His 2.6 aerial wins per 90 ranks first in the PSG squad, his tackle success rate of 76% is the ninth most of defenders with over 1,000 minutes in Ligue 1 this season and his 9.5 final third passes per 90 ranks third using the same metric.

Furthermore, his 93% pass accuracy is the same as Manchester City’s Ruben Dias and John Stones; he’s comfortable in possession and in the company of the best in Europe.

With three goals in this season’s Champions League, including one in the semi-final against Man City and one in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, Marquinhos is known for big goals. He also netted a late equaliser against Atalanta in the quarter-final last year, and followed that up with a goal against RB Leipzig in the semi-final; he knows how to score in the knockout stages that’s for sure.

Ferdinand thinks that Chelsea are only missing a “top centre-half” to challenge for the Premier League title next season, and Marquinhos is his pick of the bunch.