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Goncalo Ramos was a comparatively unheard-of title only a 12 months in the past. Now, hE is being talked about together with a number of huge names as a possible goal for Manchester United, in addition to different high European golf equipment.
Having come by the academy and youth ranks at Benfica, the 21-year-old bought his large break with the departure of Darwin Nunez for Liverpool. His spectacular begin to life within the first group, the place he scored 9 targets in his first 11 league video games, noticed him known as up for World Cup.
In Qatar, he would proceed to impress, scoring a hat trick in his first begin. He completed the season with 19 league targets and 27 targets in all competitions.
As anticipated, the suitors have come looking for his signature, and Man United has been closely tipped as a possible vacation spot.
In an interview in Could, compatriot and Man United star Bruno Fernandes spoke glowingly about Ramos, stating emphatically:
“Gonçalo has all of the attributes to play within the Premier League, he’s very intense, presses very nicely and is excellent contained in the field,”
So how may these attributes assist him shine at United?
Whereas Ramos has performed as a second striker previously, each one in every of his 19 league targets this season has been scored within the penalty space – with a wholesome share being struck from throughout the six-yard field.
Underneath Benfica’s present coach Roger Schmidt, Ramos usually doesn’t become involved within the build-up play, trying as a substitute to be on the receiving finish of the ultimate cross.
For instance, as a identified by The Athletic, he made solely 17.9 passes per recreation throughout the season, which places him within the backside half compared with different forwards within the league, regardless of Benfica having a mean of 63.2% of possession – the very best within the league.
This shouldn’t be taken to indicate that Ramos is restricted. Fairly, it might be proof of his adaptability.
Other than his deadly ending, Ramos brings one other essential trait that Erik ten Hag prioritizes in his strikers: he’s a urgent machine.
Urgent from the entrance and successful possession again within the last third is a vital facet of the best way Erik ten Hag desires his United facet to play. Ramos excels at this, making 0.7 tackles per recreation.
For some context, Erling Haaland made 0.1 tackles per recreation this season; Victor Osimhen, one other striker who can be recognized for his energetic urgent, made 0.3; and Harry Kane, who has been strongly linked with United this summer time, made 0.4.
If United reach luring Ramos to Outdated Trafford, they are going to be getting a prolific scorer who helps enhance the standard of the United’s urgent from the entrance in a approach none of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial or Wout Weghorst, had been ready to do that season.