How Leeds star Raphinha could fit in at Manchester United

Cameron Smith

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

Leeds only signed Brazilian winger Raphinha from Rennes last summer, but his impressive form at Elland Road has attracted interest from the big boys in England, and Manchester United are heavily interested according to reports.

Liverpool are also in the race for the 25-year-old, but Man Utd are confident of landing the star as Bruno Fernandes played with Raphinha at Sporting CP and they hope he can lure his ex-team-mate to Old Trafford.

With Raphinha capable of playing off both flanks, but preferring the right, he would fit perfectly into a Man Utd attack that is a couple of injuries away from disaster.

Daniel James has picked up form lately but hasn’t looked Champions League quality since moving from Swansea in 2019, Juan Mata is coming to the end of his contract, Amad Diallo is still just 18-years-old, and yet to make his Premier League debut, and Marcus Rashford is far more effective on the left. All this suggest there is ample space for Raphinha on that right flank.

Comparing him to Man Utd’s current attackers, Raphinha would rank third in the Old Trafford squad for Premier League goal contributions, with 10, behind only Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, indicating that he’s ready to make the step up.

His xG + xA per 90 tally of 0.59 is also only bettered by Fernandes and Edinson Cavani in the Man Utd squad, and Fernandes is the sole player who takes more than his 2.8 shots per 90 in the Premier League.

The Rennes squad were left stunned by their club’s decision to sell Raphinha for just £17 million last summer, especially considering he signed for £19m just one year prior.

However, Rennes loss has been Leeds’ gain, but the Brazilian’s immense form may mean he won’t be at Elland Road for too much longer, and the right-wing spot in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 4-2-3-1 looks set to be Raphinha’s in the coming months.

What would Man Utd’s starting XI look like with Raphinha?