MANCHESTER UNITED have been told they should have signed Luis Suarez or Edinson Cavani to replace Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
Ex-Brazil and Old Trafford midfielder Kleberson claims mid-table United are paying the price for offloading their two most experienced strikers to Inter Milan in the summer without recruiting new frontmen.
Barcelona, Uruguay and ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez would have been an ideal summer recruit for Man Utd, says KlebersonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Luis Suarez’s international team-mate Edinson Cavani also offers the class and experience Man Utd might have benefited from, according to KlebersonCredit: Getty – Contributor
Kleberson believes Uruguay’s main men – PSG record scorer Cavani and Barcelona’s former Liverpool star Suarez, both 32 – should have topped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s shopping list.
Philadelphia Union youth boss Kleberson said last month: “Lukaku and Sanchez both wanted to leave Man United.
“They needed to play rather than being on the bench. It has made the Man United squad weaker.
“Even though they were not playing that well, they are still top players who bring a lot to the team.
“For example, if United sold Lukaku and signed Cavani or sold Sanchez and brought in Suarez, then it would’ve been very different, but they did not do that.”
Kleberson, though, still believes Solskjaer has a strong batch of players.
And the 40-year-old insists United’s performances are better than their results – even comparing them to his Flamengo side who rose from bottom of the Brazilian League to win the 2009 crown.
Ex-Brazil midfielder Kleberson was with Man Utd from 2003-2005Credit: Getty Images – Getty
And Kleberson reckons the Norwegian should be patient to find the right type of charismatic buys – to lift standards on the pitch and spirits off it.
The former Besitkas playmaker said: “They have a good squad at the moment but they could bring a few players in with new energy and bring positive vibes into the squad.
“When things are going wrong, it is sometimes easy to make quick decisions which can be wrong.
“They need to take their time and make the right decisions that will help the team.
“It is a tough time for United at the moment.. but they have to take their time with these decisions.”
Kleberson added: “After Jose Mourinho left last season, everyone felt a little deflated but then Ole Gunnar Solskjær came in during the season and people were getting motivated again.
“Everyone had high expectations this season for United and they have not delivered.
“I don’t think United have been playing badly, they just have not been winning.
“If they were playing well and were winning games, then it would be very different.
“It is all about the results, they need to win games for the team to show their real potential.”
Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with leaders Liverpool raised United to 13th with a much-improved display, notably through scorer Marcus Rashford, pacy frontpartner Daniel James and a liberated Andreas Pereira.
And speaking before that clash, Kleberson said: “Winning games will bring good energy back to United, they have time to turn things around.
“Ole doesn’t need to have great performances. He just needs to be winning games which will bring good energy to the team.
“They won’t stay near the bottom for long.
“It reminds me of my time at Flamengo. We were at the bottom of the league at the start of the season, but we finished the league on the top. United have time to improve.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
