Goldbridge: “Vlahovic is Massively Injury-Prone” – Doubts Over United Move | OneFootball

Vlahovic to Manchester United? Goldbridge Raises the Red Flags

Juventus Decision Prompts Questions from United Stand

Manchester United’s potential move for Dusan Vlahovic has sparked heated debate among fans and pundits alike, not least on The United Stand, where Mark Goldbridge provided a comprehensive and critical breakdown of the Serbian striker’s situation at Juventus. With reports suggesting Juventus may terminate Vlahovic’s contract, United fans are speculating on a possible free transfer. But is it a move worth the risk?

Goldbridge wasted no time dissecting the scenario, asking bluntly, “Could we sign Vlahovic on a free if Juventus terminate his contract?” Before quickly questioning the rationale: “Why are Juventus terminating his contract?”

Injury History Undermines Vlahovic’s Value

The key concern for Goldbridge was clear: Vlahovic’s persistent fitness issues. “I think the big reason they can’t sell him is because he’s massively, massively injury-prone,” he said, with emphasis. Rather than a single long-term setback, Goldbridge painted a picture of continual disruption: “Ankle sprain, thigh problems, groin problems, back problems, muscular problems, inflammation of the spine, muscle fatigue, stress reaction of the bone.”

He went on to contrast this with more straightforward injury records: “I would rather see two bad injuries in the last five years than what I see with Vlahovic.” It’s not just about absence, he explained, but unreliability: “Vlahovic is going to be Mazraoui but only plays a couple of games a month and then misses a couple of games. And we don’t need that.”

Juventus Exit Strategy Confounds

Goldbridge also explored Juventus’ motivation, describing the financial complications of ending a contract with a player who has just one year left. “If I’m Vlahovic and I’m on £100k a week, that’s £5.2 million a year… and Juventus go, ‘We’ll give you two and a half,’ and you go, ‘Well no, it’s 5.2,’” he said. The conversation reveals the club’s keenness to offload without payout matching full wages, perhaps signalling desperation.

“United would never do it,” Goldbridge added, suggesting that such exits reflect underlying issues, not opportunity. “There is a red flag because Juventus can’t sell him.”

Photo IMAGO

United’s Real Need: Consistency

Turning attention to Manchester United’s squad needs, Goldbridge laid it bare: “What Man United need on the pitch is consistency. And to have consistency, you need players that are consistent.” He praised other profiles like Mazraoui for delivering week in, week out, warning that Vlahovic “just riddled with these minor injuries,” would disrupt team rhythm.

It’s a concern grounded not just in theory but in past experiences: “It’s like Cavani with us. I don’t think Cavani ever had a bad long injury, but there was loads of games that he missed here, there, and everywhere.”