Ruben Amorim wants Pedro Goncalves to join him in Manchester

An untimely injury may have halted an impressive start to 2024-25 for Pedro Goncalves. Regardless, the Sporting star remains a primary target for Ruben Amorim ahead of an intriguing summer window for Manchester United.

At 26, the Vidago native has established himself as an integral figure for the reigning Primeira Liga champions and the one-time attacking sensation for Amorim’s juggernaut.

The Theatre of Red exclusively revealed that Manchester officials are monitoring his rehabilitation progress with confidence in completing a mutually beneficial package in the summer should the player be deemed fit and healthy.

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Amorim is a firm admirer of Goncalves and feels his presence in the forward line of his intricate tactical philosophy can massively benefit the fortunes of his underperforming side.

Unquestionably, a prolonged absence has hampered Sporting’s campaign. However, a recent retrieval to grass training has bolstered hopes ahead of a highly-anticipated return to first-team action.

While a potential deal relies solely on the Portuguese international reclaiming his conditioning, there is growing confidence in a positive recuperation for the one-time Wolves player.

Pedro Goncalves and Ruben Amorim | A match made in Manchester

Despite collecting a handful of niggling setbacks throughout a promising career, this harmful tendon injury completely halted a brilliant start to Verde e Branco’s campaign, with the attacker supplying 11 goal contributions in 12 outings (five goals, six assists).

But this will come as no surprise to fans of the continental game, with Goncalves boasting a majestic record of 66 goals and 47 assists in 165 Primeira Liga appearances.

Equally, his talents were more than visible in continental competitions, supplying nine goal contributions in 13 Champions League outings (four goals, five assists) and 10 from 15 Europa League appearances (six goals, four assists).

Crucially, outside of his attractive metrics, his understanding of Amorim’s specific tactical ideals solidified the former Famalicao man as a fan-favourite and a warrior, willing to die on the field to please his leader.

When we assess his characteristics in the United chief’s system, a defined and meticulous attacking skillset comes to the fore. Make no mistake, Goncalves is not just a good attacking player in Portugal; he is a phenomenal attacking option for any side in Europe.

Pedro Goncalves \| Primeira Liga 24-25	Per 90 minutes / Percentage	Percentile
Shots on targets	1.28	97
Shot conversion rate	63.64%	91
Expected assists (xA)	0.70	99
Key passes	5.83	99
Cross	5.47	95
Successful crosses	2.37	99
Dribbles	4.01	96
Dispossessed	1.46	12

Additionally, while predominantly utilised on the left side of an attacking trio, he is versatile and capable of functioning in any position across the front line. Take 2023-24, for example: 28 starts at LW, 13 as a CM, five at RW and two as a CAM.

The elephant in the room remains his injury status and the type of player that will return to the field following a prolonged absence. To date, he has missed 110 days and 23 games with this troublesome tendon injury.

However, recent social communications from the Sporting star indicate a desire to rehabilitate correctly rather than rush himself back and potentially jeopardise his career.

Manchester United fans would do well to watch on with a keen eye, as this could very well be a player who steals the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful with a potential Premier League arrival high on Ruben Amorim’s wishlist.

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