He ticks every box, most significantly being better than Luke Shaw in every way
Manchester United are lining up a move for Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilón, according to reports, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to improve his defensive options.
It is a signing that makes sense for everyone involved: Real Madrid receive a decent fee for their third choice left-back, Reguilón gets a big contract at a big club where he will be first choice, and Manchester United finally get an upgrade on Luke Shaw.
That’s not a dig at Shaw, who by all accounts seems like a lovely chap and has been through a tough time at United under certain managers. But Reguilón possesses the exact traits United have been missing from their left-backs over the past few years, most notably end product in the final third.
Manchester United fans will be all too familiar with Reguilón’s quality after watching him play for Sevilla in the Europa League semi-final that saw the Spanish side beat the Red Devils 2-1. The left-back played a big part in that win for Sevilla, assisting Suso’s equaliser with a pinpoint low cross that provided a glimpse into his wealth of talent.
It’s all well and good running forward on the overlap to help out the winger, but how often do you see Shaw actually get an assist from one of his forward runs? Answer: not very. In all competitions during the 2019/20 campaign, the Englishman recorded just one assist, in the Europa League.
Reguilón, meanwhile, racked up five for Sevilla, forming a crucial part of their attack alongside Jesús Navas on the opposing wing.
And yes, before you say it, full-backs have to be able to both defend and attack in the modern game. What is Reguilón like in defence? Thanks for asking. He is marginally ahead of Shaw in average tackles per game and interceptions, while also only committing 0.5 fouls per game on average.
He is predominantly an attack-minded full-back though, which suits United’s needs. With Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the opposing flank, having a full-back more adept at the attacking side of the game would, on paper at least, create a healthy balance.
There is more to football than numbers of course, especially when it comes to defenders. There are plenty of intangible qualities that can only be assessed by watching a player in action, AKA The Eye Test.
Reguilón passes this test with flying colours. Despite his slight frame, he never shirks a tackle, is comfortable in tight spaces with the ball and capable of bursting through the lines to carry the team up the field.
At the tender age of 23, there is still a lot of room for improvement as well. He has all the makings of a player Real Madrid will regret selling, and end up buying back for double the fee United pay this summer.
