United would be mad to miss out on 20-yo midfielder lighting up the WC, he’s better than Mateus Fernandes – opinion

The World Cup has a way of introducing us to some of the most exciting talents in world football. If you have been watching Switzerland’s games, you will know exactly what Johan Manzambi is about. Manzambi has dazzled at the World Cup The SC Freiburg midfielder already has three goals and one assist in just his first three World Cup games, and it gets even more impressive when you realise he has only started once across those three matches. While many midfielders can operate in all three midfield positions, few do so at the level Manzambi does. Whether deployed as a six, eight or ten, the Swiss midfielder consistently performs to the highest standard, and it is not just his country benefiting from it. He has been doing exactly that for his club, too. He is the true definition of plug-and-play, and he is precisely the kind of player this United side, which is attempting a midfield rebuild, ought to gamble on. Should have climbed Man United’s wishlist Manzambi is already featuring on United’s summer wishlist, with a battle with Liverpool even mooted. But now, United should be all over this deal. In fact, after signing Ederson and, hopefully, striking a deal for a “gettable” midfielder like Aurélien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba, or Alex Scott, Manzambi should come in as the third midfielder. The Swiss could offer everything the overpriced Mateus Fernandes would, if not more. Great in all phases of the game In possession, Manzambi could be a genuine weapon for Michael Carrick against low blocks. His creativity, excellent ball-carrying, strong dribbling, progressive passing and constant desire to make things happen between the lines make him a nightmare to contain. He draws fouls for fun because defenders simply have no other answer. There is no clean way to stop him; you just foul him and hope the referee bails you out. Yet he is not just good in possession; he is superb out of it, too. He is a fantastic dueller, both aerially and on the ground, and presses with an intensity that most players at this level simply do not possess. All things considered, given how Manzambi is absolutely lighting up the World Cup and announcing himself to the world, he will be looking for a move this summer, for sure. Hopefully, Ineos presents Old Trafford as the obvious destination, the perfect stage to take his game to the next level. Featured image Mattia Ozbot via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.