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After months of speculation, Manchester United have finally confirmed that Ander Herrera is set to leave United by the end of the season. Herrera left a heartfelt message for United fans on social media, which says a lot about him as a player and as a person.
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He said:
A club with thousands of fans that respect and remember all the players who give everything.
I felt special when I heard my name chanted. I felt proud when the fans decided I was part of this incredible history.
Every time I represented this club, in every game, in wins and losses, even when I couldn't help from the grass I understood what this club means.
This season, United have been extremely poor on the pitch and Solskjaer has some major rebuilding to do this summer. In such a scenario, a player of Ander Herrera's calibre would have been priceless for the Norwegian. Unfortunately, United have failed to keep him at the club and here are 5 reasons why the Red Devils were wrong to let Ander Herrera leave.
#5 His replacement will be costly
To start rebuilding his team in the summer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will definitely expect a like-for-like replacement for Ander Herrera. Because of the nature of the position and United's recent reputation in the transfer market, the move will neither be cheap, nor easy for the management.
In the current scenario, there are few players with the qualities of Ander Herrera available for transfer. There was initial belief that Scot McTominay was the right guy to fill the Spaniard's shoes at United. However, recent games have hardly suggested that the Scottish midfielder would be able to fill Herrera's boots on a regular basis. As such, it is clear that United will have to invest in the market for a midfield warrior this summer.
If reports are to be believed, Manchester United have identified Portuguese Midfielder Bruno Fernandes as the ideal replacement for Herrera. However, the Portuguese is also believed to be in City's radar and even if Pep Guardiola's side have cooled their interest of late, Fernandes would still cost upwards of £50m. That is a lot of money for the 24-year-old who is unproven in a big league.
#4 He was one of United's better players this season
Last season, Herrera found chances hard to come by under Jose Mourinho. However, as soon as Solskjaer took over, the Spaniard was reinstated into the team. And Herrera was fantastic for United. He sat deep when required and made late runs into the box to unsettle the opposition. He was a fighter on the pitch and almost always covered every blade on the ground, in his quest to win back the ball.
The Spaniard scored in his first game under Solskjaer, against Cardiff City and also picked up two assists in the next two games. He was fantastic in their FA Cup run as well, opening the scoring against Chelsea in a fantastic 2-0 win.
A hip injury restricted his appearances in recent times and all of United's four defeats in the Premier League under Solskjaer have come in his absence. This season, the Spaniard attempted more tackles than any midfielder in the tea. Only Luke Shaw has more tackles than him in the entire squad. Herrera also has the most interceptions among all the midfielders in the team; only Ashley Young tops him in the entire squad. To let such a servant of the club leave might be a decision that comes back to haunt United.
#3 His intelligence would have been crucial in the rebuilding process
Ander Herrera is an extremely good reader of the game. For a player who is inherently attack-minded, he has the ability to modify his game to suit the demands of the situation. The Spaniard joined United as a central midfielder but was intelligent enough to carry out various roles with equal ease. And his decision making on the pitch was excellent. Who can forget how he forced Henrikh Mkhitaryan into the box in the Europa League final?
The Spaniard is a thinking footballer, a rare breed, who can adapt and improvise on the pitch. During a summer of rebuilding, a chunk of which will be invested in youth, Solskjaer would have liked a player like Herrera around. Younger players would have learnt a lot about the trade from the Spaniard, who was also the Manchester United Player of the Year for the 2016/17 season.
#2 United will miss his leadership qualities
Ander Herrera has been the midfield enforcer, a part of a double pivot, as well as the box to box midfielder and has been admirable in every position he played in. The Spaniard has a great attitude on the pitch and can take responsibilities, something that is a stark miss from this United squad. On the field, he was a leader and perhaps one of the very few currently present in the United squad.
Being a leader doesn't mean just shouting and directing the team only during the game. A leader inspires and takes the team forward and Herrera was a true leader. He was a motivator for the players enduring poor form, urging them forward with positive vibes. This was especially seen on the pitch with Alexis Sanchez quite a few times. Herrera was also careful with his handling of the youngster at the club, guiding them on the pitch and helping them out whenever they ran into trouble in a game.
To let such a character leave looks like a big mistake right now.
#1 United have let a fan favourite leave
Very few players in the current United team actually know what it's like to play for the badge. Ander Herrera certainly had no trouble doing so, it was clear that he loved the club. He put in that extra effort on the pitch that showed his desire and the fans loved him for it. Right from his first game for United, he had found a special place among the fans, who adored him.
Off the field too, Herrera has been the perfect Manchester United player. He has always spoken about the club with great affection and has shown in social media too that he is a proper United player. His passion for the club has been evident on the pitch, and while it has let to debates whether passion alone should be criteria to keep a player at a club, Herrera had won fans over with his performance as well as his passion. To let such a player sets a bad example in a time when United are already sweating to rectify their image among fans.
