Following recent reports that Bastian Schweinsteiger is now training with Manchester United’s Under-23 players, it has become clear that the Red Devils’ manager has no plans to include the former Bayern Munich midfielder in his newly-formed squad.
The 32-year-old is amongst a handful of fringe players at Old Trafford including Adnan Januzaj, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Tyler Blackett, whose futures have been placed in doubt following United’s pre-season tour.
Having only entered the Theatre of Dreams as a Manchester United player last summer, after he was persuaded by former boss Louis Van Gaal to make the switch from the Bundesliga – the experienced performer will believe that he has a lot to prove to the clubs’ supporters following an injury-struck 2015/16 season.
However, with the imminent arrival of Juventus talisman Paul Pogba in perhaps the most prestigious transfer saga this season, many are arguing that the recently-retired international has played his last match in a Manchester United shirt.
This is not the first time that the Reds’ have forced a big-name player out of the door, with ex-Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes somewhat disrespectfully undermined by their Dutch manager throughout the last two seasons. Tobi Schweinsteiger, the younger brother of the current Manchester United no.31, was quick to make his views clear via Twitter after commenting that the club had acted with ‘no respect’. However, there can be no disputing the fact that Jose Mourinho was set to shake things up at Old Trafford soon after his appointment.
The Portuguese man is likely to implement his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation for the predominant part of the 16/17 Premier League campaign, similar to the system he implemented at Chelsea during fourth league title win just two seasons ago. United are therefore likely to field a ball-winning and playmaking midfielder duo – already proven in the features of Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick holding midfielder partnerships during Manchester United’s pre-season fixtures.
Although Bastian Schweinsteiger could be introduced as an addition to the playmaking role within the United midfield – on top of his wealth of experience in the dressing room – his injury problems may lead to his on-field minutes dropping significantly. The 32-year-old German missed 24 Reds’ games and almost four months of the 2015/16 season due to two ligament injuries. With both suffered during the second half of the Premier League regime, Jose Mourinho may feel that gambling on Schweinsteiger’s fitness could be too big a risk to take.
There is no escaping the fact that new Old Trafford boss’ fourth ‘specialist’ will be deployed in the heart of the United midfield following the signings of centre-half Eric Bailly, Borussia Dortmund’s Henrihk Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who needs no explanation.
Whether Bastian Schweinsteiger remains a Manchester United player following the transfer deadline day on 1st September, it is becoming extremely likely that he will occupy Paul Pogba’s shadow when the club reach an agreement with Juventus for the 23-year-old. The young Frenchman’s athleticism, physical strength and passing ability unquestionably overlook the aging Champions League winners’ skill-set – furthered by Pogba’s near-perfect match appearance percentage for the Seria A champions last season.
The previous Old Trafford academy prospect is, however, lacking in footballing experience highlighted with a lacklustre performance during France’s defeat on home turf to Portugal in the European Championship final in July.However, the influence of his experienced fellow United counterparts Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney would allow the 23-year-old to settle and grow into his new role in Manchester – resulting in Bastian Schweinsteiger becoming increasingly surplus to the requirements of the club’s squad under Jose Mourinho.
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