One Manchester United star has been compared with Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli after his performance in his latest international appearance.
Despite playing 60 matches in all competitions last season, excluding the post-season tour in Asia, some Manchester United players have already been called up for international duty.
Sekou Kone is currently participating in an under-20s tournament for Mali, competing against teams such as Saudi Arabia and France, before he makes the step up to the first team later this summer.
Another youngster to be included in a senior international squad is Gabriele Biancheri; the young striker joined up with Craig Bellamy’s Wales training squad last month, but he is now assessing his options by training with Jesse Marsch’s Canada side.
After his impressive performances towards the end of the season, Casemiro has been recalled to the Brazil squad for Carlo Ancelotti’s first games in charge of the national team after leaving Real Madrid.
Fresh recruit Matheus Cunha joined the defensive midfielder, along with Antony, but unlike Casemiro, Rúben Amorim’s new signing only appeared off the bench against Ecuador.
Cunha failed to impress as Brazil struggled
Casemiro started Ancelotti’s first game as Brazil boss, making the most tackles in the game (5) and winning the most duels of any player (10), but he couldn’t help the Canarinho break down the Ecuador defence.
In an attempt to take control of the tie, Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli were subbed on for Estevao and Richarlison, but both failed to make a mark on the game in their short time on the pitch.
Writing after the game, GE, a Brazilian outlet, rated United’s new signing as a 5.5/10, saying: “Just like Martinelli, he entered the game at a time when Brazil was not producing much. In the first play, he made a great run down the right, but then failed to be efficient offensively.”
Despite playing his best football on the left of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ front three, Cunha appeared to play 25 minutes on the right wing in Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 system, a position he will very rarely take up for Amorim.
Bryan Mbeumo looks set to become United’s next right-sided attacking midfielder, with both David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Red Devils have submitted their first bid for the Brentford forward.
Amad set for permanent position change
With the signing of Cunha and the potential new addition of Mbeumo, Amad looks set for a permanent position change to right wing-back after playing in both defence and attack last season.
If the Ivorian continues to be used as a No.10, he will be competing for minutes with the new signings, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount, but he is too important to be such a bit-part player.
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Instead, Amad will be fighting for minutes with Diogo Dalot on the right of Amorim’s defence, with Noussair Mazraoui more likely to play in the back three.
Dalot made 53 appearances for United last season, but after his injury, he appeared to fall out of favour, even being withdrawn after being subbed on in the last game against Aston Villa.
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