We have seen many clubs in the Premier League deploy a buy them young transfer policy where they look to recognise and sign talents before their breakthrough campaigns, and it looks like Manchester United are set to join that trend as they look to sign 20-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Milton Delgado.
The Manchester Reds have been trying to bring him to Old Trafford this summer, with reports via Canal 26 insisting that the Premier League heavyweights have already expressed their interest in bringing him to Old Trafford.
The Argentine U-20 star had been one of the more regular players under Fernando Gago, and under him, he also played possibly some of the slickest football he ever has, but since Miguel Angel Russo has taken over the reins at Boca, he has left the midfielder more on the sidelines in terms of his plans, and this has ended up leading to speculations surrounding his future, which ultimately United could end up benefitting from…
Delgado, making a basis…
Strengths
The right-footed Argentine has that progressive ball-carrying capacity like many South American ballers of his age group. He likes to drive with the ball, and that is aided by his ball control, which could be highly valuable when Ruben Amorim plays a midfield pivot in a 3-4-3. But he doesn’t blindly drive with the ball; he combines this aggression with poise given how he drives forward through midfield lines under pressure.
He also shows that calmness in tight spaces, which in a way suits the fluidity demands that Amorim puts on his midfielders. And like most of the Argentine players, Delgado has that combative off-the-ball capacity about him, which makes him bring that energy in defensive transitions. The 20-year-old is someone who has that high-intensity work rate which makes him valuable in pressing and second-ball scenarios.
Weaknesses
While he has been a standout at Boca, we need to remember that Delgado still doesn’t have that extensive experience in the men’s game given that he has only recently broken into first-team contention and remains raw in decision-making and game management. And he has not yet unlocked his goal-scoring potential, given that he has recorded none of his goals and just one assist in senior football.
I think it would either be a move to United too soon, or he would need to go out on loan for a season or two before being United ready.
How can Milton Delgado tactically fit at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim?
If we are talking about the current setup at Old Trafford, then the Argentine would come in as an #8 or dynamic pivot where he would play as a high-energy interior besides a deep controller (Mainoo or Ugarte) in a pivot. Amorim can use his strength in carrying and ball recovery to bring a sense of mobility in the middle of the park.
And then if we think about Amorim’s pressing system, then Delgado again fits kindly, given how he grinds off the ball, and he has that ability to cover wide spaces, which would support aggressive pressing schemes and help protect the backline during high defensive lines.
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WAFU Opinion
Delgado looks like someone who could be considered more of a shrewd investment if we start thinking in a long-term sense, and especially if we continue to think along the lines of Ruben Amorim’s model, then he does have that tactical versatility and intelligence to make an impact at M16. But that being said, United supporters will have to be patient with the 20-year-old given how he should need time and possibly a loan to get used to the football in Europe.