After years of inconsistency, Manchester United find themselves back in the market for a reliable defensive midfield presence.
The Casemiro experiment, while initially promising, has faltered.
The Brazilian’s declining mobility and positional indiscipline have left United exposed against high-intensity opposition.
In 2023/24, Casemiro ranked among the Premier League’s worst for tackles and interceptions per 90 among defensive midfielders.
His struggle to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, combined with United’s chaotic structure, has led to criticism from pundits and supporters alike.
Now approaching 34, his time at the top level is running out.
United’s recruitment strategy under new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is shifting toward more structured, long-term planning.
One target under close consideration fits that profile, and while he may not possess the same elegance or influence as Manchester City’s Rodri, the parallels between them suggest he could become United’s answer to their rival’s midfield metronome.
Man United looking at signing new defensive monster
João Palhinha may not possess the same quality as Rodri, but few midfielders in Europe are more adept at the dark arts of defending.
The 30-year-old Portuguese has built a reputation as one of the continent’s best destroyers, a player capable of stopping attacks, dominating duels, and providing structural discipline in front of the backline.
Labelled a “defensive monster” by recruitment analyst Marcus Bring, Palhinha first caught the Premier League’s attention during several successful campaigns with Fulham.
His blend of controlled aggression, timing in the tackle, and elite aerial strength quickly earned admirers across the continent.
After a €50m (£43m) move to Bayern Munich in 2024, things haven’t quite clicked. He played just 25 games in all competitions last season, only ten of which were starts, and has struggled to fit into Vincent Kompany’s plans.
With Bayern aiming to cut their losses, Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports that both Tottenham and Manchester United are monitoring his situation, with Spurs the only club to open formal negotiations.
Still, for the right system, Palhinha remains a force of nature.
How Palhinha compares to Rodri
According to data from FBref, across the last 365 days in the top five European leagues, Palhinha ranks in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 (3.19), the 96th for aerial duels won (2.34), and the 97th for pass completion (92.4%).
His numbers show a player who is not only a defensive disruptor but also safe and smart with the ball.
Where Palhinha particularly excels is in winning duels and preventing counterattacks.
He successfully tackles 67.8% of dribblers he faces, compared to Rodri’s 48.3%, highlighting his superior one-on-one defensive ability.
He also makes 1.90 blocks per 90, almost double that of Rodri (0.98), and wins 5.07 tackles per 90, more than twice Rodri’s average of 2.15.
Yes, Rodri is the superior all-rounder; his vision, ball progression, and tempo-setting abilities are unrivalled in England.
He dominates games with his positioning and intelligence, often dictating possession for a Manchester City side that sees upwards of 60% of the ball in most matches.
But Palhinha operates in a different context. At Fulham, he was regularly facing wave after wave of pressure, tasked with breaking up play, covering space in transition, and dealing with long periods without possession.
He was forced to defend far more often and far more urgently than Rodri. Yet he still maintained an elite-level pass completion rate and positional discipline.
For United, he’s far more suited to Premier League intensity than Casemiro has proven to be in the last 12 months.
At 30, he offers experience and leadership, but also still has the engine to cover ground and the sharpness to dominate aerially.
United’s interest also makes particular sense when considering Rúben Amorim, who coached Palhinha at Sporting CP.
Crucially, Palhinha would also give United’s new attacking signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the freedom to operate higher up the pitch, knowing that the base of midfield is secured.
He wouldn’t necessarily be tasked with orchestrating the build-up play or dictating tempo, but rather providing the solid platform others can build from, the same role Rodri played in his early City years, before evolving into a deeper playmaker.
He may not be Rodri. Few are. But if United want their own version, a player who can quietly and consistently protect the backline, win the midfield battles, and bring much-needed control – then Palhinha is the closest they’ve come in years.
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