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Mata could be Rooney's replacement - Kevin Kilbane on Off The Ball

Listen to the full interview via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast. Manchester United have b...
Newstalk
Newstalk

21.54 21 Jan 2014


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Mata could be Rooney's...

Mata could be Rooney's replacement - Kevin Kilbane on Off The Ball

Newstalk
Newstalk

21.54 21 Jan 2014


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Listen to the full interview via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast.

Manchester United have been linked with a £37 million move for Chelsea's out-of-favour playmaker Juan Mata.

With David Moyes and the club in need of a timely boost, it is a deal that will tempt the Reds.

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But last night Sky pundit and former United right-back Gary Neville said that the Spaniard does not suit Manchester United's philosophy and questioned where he is going to fit in.

But he did add that Mata's signing could be a signature "that could lead to other things."

Retired Ireland centurion Kevin Kilbane joined us on the show tonight and he agrees with Neville's point that Mata's signing could attract other big names to Old Trafford.

"They need to make a signing. That's the priority now for David Moyes and the club. There's a question mark over Rooney so perhaps that's a role [Mata] could play if Rooney does leave."

Mata is also more than capable of playing on the wing but Killer has a slight concern about putting him on the right or left flank.

"If you were going to play him off the right, they don't really have an attacking full-back now. Patrice Evra isn't that attacking full-back. He can't get back into position quick enough when he goes forward. You need to have attacking full-backs if you're going to have players coming in off the line."

While, Kilbane believes Marouane Fellaini will eventually be a success, he does not see him as a game-changing signing and sees United needing three big signings.

He also gave his take on the worry lines furrowing their way across the brow of his former manager David Moyes.

"Over the years, he has looked stressed even when he was at Everton and even at Preston beforehand. He takes things to heart if his team isn't winning and performing. He then increases his own workload. He won't be resting up but he does look a bit stressed on the sideline." 


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