Manchester United have the opportunity to poach the services of Raphael Guerreiro on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old is a Portuguese international who was born and raised in France. He is a graduate of the famous French academy Claire Fontaine, and then went on to develop his game at Caen and Lorient .
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In 2016, the left-back signed for Borussia Dortmund , cementing himself as one of the finest players in the Bundesliga, before earning a free transfer to Bayern Munich in 2023.
On Monday, the Bavarians announced that Guerreiro's time at the Allianz Arena is coming to an end in June, as his expiring contract won't be renewed.
"We would like to express our sincere thanks to Rapha for the time he has spent with us," reads the official statement published by the Bundesliga champions .
"We could always rely on Rapha on the pitch, and he is one of those characters who enriches any dressing room. Our discussions with him were constructive and based on trust and mutual understanding."
While the versatile player's destination remains unclear, his situation will certainly pique the interest of a host of clubs in Europe and beyond. After all, the Portuguese star is 32 and remains in good shape, so he theoretically still has many good years in the tank.
To make it abundantly clear, no source has linked Guerreiro with a move to Man Utd just yet. However, the Red Devils should seriously entertain the thought of snapping up the experienced star on a free transfer.
While he may be a left-back by trade, Guerreiro is an extremely versatile player. According to Transfermarkt , he featured as a right-back, central midfielder and attacking midfielder this season, in addition to his original role on the left flank.
Playing in a variety of positions isn't anything new for the French-Portuguese. He had already proven himself as a competent midfielder under Thomas Tuchel during his time at Dortmund. The current England boss described him as a 'smart' player.
He was also praised for his 'masterful link-up' , immaculate shooting and passing, and his ability to operate in tight spaces.
Guerreiro's ability to occupy multiple roles, particularly at left-back and midfield, would be immensely useful for Man Utd, as these are two roles the management plans to address next summer .
With Casemiro set to depart and Manuel Ugarte potentially following suit, the Red Devils might need three new midfielders. While The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell believes they can spend £70 million or more on two top-notch CMs, they certainly can't afford a third major investment in the same department.
Hence, Guerreiro can represent an additional option who adds depth and experience to the midfield, in addition to offering cover for Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu in his original role at left-back.
Although we wouldn't be the most exciting signing due to his age, those who followed Guerreiro's career path know the quality he's capable of offering, and as an avid Bundesliga follower, Man Utd's Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell, should know it better than most.
