Diego Godin a Great Transfer for Man United but Has No Need to Leave Atletico
The January transfer window is a full one month away—but already the rumours are starting up as to which teams might be looking at particular players to join once the winter registration period comes around.
An interesting and potentially huge deal is explored by Mark Ogden of The Telegraph, reporting that Louis van Gaal may target Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin to beef up Manchester United's defence next month. The Uruguayan's release clause is €36 million, and the indication is that the Premier League side could even pay it in full to get him in January.
While he would be an absolutely outstanding purchase for United in isolation, it would raise questions over other members of the squad if he joined—and there is the small matter to consider that right now Atletico are a far more successful squad—poised to challenge again this season—than Manchester United.
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Why Leave Atleti?
United might be rebuilding under Van Gaal, quicker than some thought even due to the inconsistencies of their rivals, but Atleti are the reigning Spanish champions.
They won the Europa League in 2012, the UEFA Super Cup later the same year, the Copa del Rey 12 months after their European success and then, shortly before reaching the UEFA Champions League final in May, became the first team in a decade to supplant both Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. 2014-15 started with a Spanish Super Cup victory and once more this season, Atleti are performing well both domestically and continentally.
It has been a roller-coaster few years at Atletico since Diego Simeone took over, and Godin has been the rock on which it has all been built.
He suits the style of play perfectly at the Vicente Calderon, wears the captain's armband from time to time and shares the sense of determination and will to win that the rest of the club possesses; the chase for trophies isn't going away any time soon.
Upper Class
Despite all that success, the Atletico Madrid storyline still has something of a feeling of inevitability about it; sooner or later, they will drop off and the big three will return to a big two in Spain. Perhaps in a year or two, Gabi's midfield influence will wane, Koke will be lured away or the future new recruits won't quite be up to scratch, or maybe simply Simeone will look for a new challenge.
Either way, the prospect of Godin leaving isn't hugely far-fetched, especially if the prospect of a new challenge, big club, respected manager and enticing numbers all come into the equation.
And, it would be quite clear to Godin that he has everything United need right now. He would walk into the starting XI and be expected to bring the level of defence up more than a little.
Godin has terrific strength in the air, is dominant and aggressive at attacking danger before a shot can be gotten away cleanly. He organises and directs his team-mates well—potentially an issue in changing league and language, of course—and although he can play simple at times, is very much a defend-first player. He will clear his lines, agriculturally if necessary, before worrying about aesthetics, a counter-attack or the target on the halfway line.
United could very much do with someone as reliable and decisive as that in their back line—not to mention the threat he carries at the other end of the pitch.
Questions of Rojo
Godin does, however, play on the left side of centre. He's right-footed but has Miranda alongside him to do the sweeping up, the clearing behind the defence, after Godin himself goes to attack the first ball. Stopper and sweeper, aggressor and reader.
United have suffered injuries in defence this season, but Marcos Rojo was the big summer signing in the back line who also plays on the same side as Godin. Would the Uruguayan adapt to playing with Rojo from the right? Perhaps, but why splash almost £30 million on a player and ask him to change the way he performs? In addition, Rojo himself is more aggressive at stepping out of the defensive line than the ideal partner for Godin would be.
If the Argentine shifts to left-back—Ashley Young played there in United's most recent game—there's another signing, Luke Shaw, who would be left without game time.
There are plenty of questions for Van Gaal to assess and answer before any move for Godin is made, but if the chance is there to sign him, United should absolutely go for it. The biggest difficulty may be in persuading the defender himself that now is the right time to jump ship from Atleti, when all the signs point to them remaining stronger than United for at least another 18 months.
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