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Alex Telles struggles for game-time under Ole Gunnar: Should the Red Devils transfer him out?

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Struggling for game-time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Juventus have targeted Manchester United defender Alex Telles. The Italian side are targeting several players to boost their squad, with the Brazilian now a possible choice.

Alex Telles joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2020 from Porto for a fee of £15.4 million. The player was brought in as a replacement for Luke Shaw, who was under a lot of criticism regarding his performances. However, the Englishman’s improved output and discipline resulted in the sidelining of Telles.

Ole Gunnar’s poor game-time management of the Brazilian has made him a potential target for many clubs. Along with Donny Van De Beek, the 28-year-old defender will be open for a switch, if a better opportunity is presented to him.

Alex Telles disregarded by Ole Gunnar

The 28-year-old Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford in hopes of replacing their left-back Luke Shaw. The Englishman was undergoing a dreaded form and immense criticism regarding his performances. Shaw’s constant failure to perform under Ole forced the Man Utd board to sign Telles. The player was a huge sensation at Porto, having lifted two league titles with the club in 195 appearances. His stats were unbelievable for a left-back, having scored 13 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions in the 2019/20 season. (stats via TRANSFERMRKT)

Telles is a very promising and attacking left-back. He often takes set-piece responsibilities and delivers them perfectly. Being a full-back, he holds on to the ball and takes it forward frequently. As a result of his holding, he lands into positions where he is able to cross the ball and create big chances for his teammates. His ‘Brazilian flair’ also helps him to release the ball quickly and create short passes to drive the game forward. Backed by his offensive attributes, Telles is also very good at defending. He makes crucial interceptions and often beats his opponents in aerial contests.

Unfortunately, his arrival at the club helped Shaw step up his performances. The player delivered to such extent, that he emerged as the best left-back in the world last season. The Man Utd star was also heavily involved in England’s Euro 2020 campaign, helping the Three Lions reach and score their only goal in the final.

Should Telles leave the Red Devils?

While Telles helped Shaw’s case, he could not do much about his own. In the 2020/21 season, his game-time was restricted to just 691 minutes in the Premier League, the majority of which came during the early phase of the campaign. Ole’s unwillingness to rotate the squad has hit the Brazil international big time.

However, his exit would cost the Red Devils heavily. His presence alone is enough to keep Shaw under pressure to deliver. He also acts as a backup for the Englishman, in case of any injuries.

Hence, the club cannot afford to let go of the 28-year-old defender and need to pressurize Solskjaer to give Telles his deserved game time.

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