Man Utd pondering move for £39m star who irritated Mourinho by ‘running too much’ | OneFootball

Manchester United have reportedly joined the fray for Benfica midfielder Richard Rios, who could be on his way out of the club this summer.

The Red Devils must sign at least two new midfielders in the summer to join Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park, as Casemiro’s departure was confirmed in January, while Manuel Ugarte would be sold for the right offer.

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The Daily Briefing revealed how Man Utd are planning to plug these multiple holes in the squad.

Man United set sights on Richard Rios

As the source explains, the Premier League giants are tracking some of the league’s most renowned midfielders, the likes of Anderson Elliot, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba.

However, each of them would cost around £100 million. Hence, Man Utd can only afford to buy one of them, with Anderson identified as the top target.

Moreover, INEOS would then shore up the midfield department by recruiting a cost-effective player like Rios, who apparently ticks all the boxes.

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The Colombian is a youth product of Flamengo, who went on to make a name for himself at Palmeiras. Last summer, Benfica spent circa £23 million to buy him from the Brazilian club.

The 25-year-old is tied to the Portuguese giants with a contract valid until June 2030. The Eagles are reportedly seeking a transfer fee of €45 million (£39m), while United value him at £26 million, so the two clubs have a significant gap to bridge.

Jose Mourinho’s unusual complaint about Rios

While several Man Utd players have been accused of complacency in the past, Rios is quite the opposite, at least based on Jose Mourinho’s assessment.

After taking over Benfica at the start of the season, the Special One reportedly told the Colombian he’s ‘running too much’ and ‘unnecessarily’.

Mourinho has been determined to refine the midfielder’s game, and has seemingly succeeded on his mission, with Rios consolidating his role as an automatic starter at the Lisbon-based club. He has thus far made 42 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing as many assists.

(Via FotMob)

While Anderson is primarily considered a box-to-box midfielder, Rios is a holding midfielder who could prove to be Casemiro’s natural replacement, although he still has some improvement to make from a tactical standpoint.