Danilo speaks out on what he brings to the table amid strong Man United links | OneFootball

Ahead of next season, Manchester United hope to have transformed their midfield entirely, building an engine room capable of competing on multiple fronts.

A deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson is set to be finalised, and the Brazilian is expected to be followed by at least two other midfielders as Michael Carrick looks to assemble his dream engine room.

Another Samba star could follow Ederson to Man United

Some of the finest midfielders in the game continue to be linked with a move to Old Trafford, and Botafogo’s Danilo is firmly among them.

Danilo has been a man on the rise. After a difficult last few months at Nottingham Forest, the Samba star opted to return home, and that decision has proved a masterstroke.

Back in Brazil, Danilo has reinvented himself, emerging as a force to be reckoned with at the heart of Botafogo’s engine room, which earned him a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.

Adored for his gritty defensive play, he has since unlocked his attacking side too. In his last 12 league games, he has contributed seven goals and two assists.

United are keenly watching him and considering him as a Casemiro replacement. Botafogo are open to a sale, though any potential deal is expected to be struck after Brazil’s World Cup campaign.

As many look ahead to the ex-Nottingham Forest star’s exploits at the World Cup, he has dropped some interesting comments that should give suitors like United plenty of food for thought.

Danilo speaks

As quoted by Sport Witness, here is what Danilo had to say.

On why he left Nottingham Forest:

“It was a difficult period. Breaking my ankle and watching an entire season pass because of injury, then coming back and not getting a run of games…

“It was very difficult. I have the age to be in Europe, but my serious injury made me lose my place at Nottingham.”

He admits he never wanted to leave Europe and return home:

“At first, I didn’t want to return to Brazil. I wanted to turn things around and shine, but this is football, and there are things you can’t control.”

Yet that move has since proved a masterstroke, as he himself acknowledges:

“That step backwards ended up becoming two or more steps forwards.”

Now, Danilo considers himself a complete midfielder as he articulates precisely what he brings to the table in a message that will resonate with suitors like United:

“Nowadays, when a player is box-to-box, it makes everything easier for teammates and for the coach.

“I can play as a No. 5, a No. 8 and even as a No. 10. I can defend, attack and go box-to-box. That helps me a lot.”

That was a perfect pitch from Danilo

Keen to revolutionise United’s engine room and give Carrick the best possible tools to work with, Danilo is precisely the profile their midfield could use.

A complete package, he arrives with Premier League experience and fits squarely within the age bracket INEOS prioritises for their signings. If he carries his club form into the World Cup, United may have a very easy decision to make; they could be the ones to bring him back to England.

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