ManuchoFollowing United’s exit from the FA Cup, in a game where we created at least four clear scoring chances without finding the back of the net, most reds are eager to hear of what we have planned for next season. Following another disappointing season from Louis Saha, it looks as though there is no way his career with the club can go beyond the summer. To win trophies at home and abroad you need a striker you can rely on, which is not something that can be said of the injury prone Saha.

After seeing cross after cross sail over the heads of our current strikers, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, measuring at 5ft 10in and 5ft 7in respectively, a bit of height would be welcomed in our six yard box. Our new Angolan lad, Manucho, stands 6ft 2in tall, and showed in the African Cup of Nations he is as capable of scoring with his head as he is with his feet. He claimed the goal of the tournament and got a place in the competition’s best XI ahead of the likes of Dider Drogba and Samuel Eto’o in January this year.

Manucho bagged his first goal for Panathinaikos on his league debut this week, and Carlos Queiroz expects great things from the Angolan striker once he returns from loan.

“First of all he is a player that can score goals,” Queiroz said. “He’s not the sort of player you come across easily and to have the possibility to bring quality forwards to our club doesn’t happen very often. We are absolutely convinced he has enough qualities and potential to have a chance in the game, despite the fact that he is now 25. He just needs the opportunity to learn the game and get used to the pace of European football. We believe sending him on loan to Panathinaikos will help him to develop and if everything goes well we hope next season we will see him among our players.”

Do you think Manucho will cut it in the Premiership?




------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.