Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has delivered a series of strong opinions on the club’s future, from transfer targets to management decisions, and he believes the Red Devils need to think carefully about the direction they take this summer.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest World Cup odds, Meulensteen warned United against making a move for Kylian Mbappe and questioned the club’s delay over Michael Carrick’s future.
Meulensteen says United should avoid Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has often been linked with elite clubs across Europe, but Meulensteen believes Manchester United should stay away from the French superstar.
The former United coach argued that Mbappe’s qualities come with a major concern – his work ethic within a team structure.
“Mbappe is not a team player,” Meulensteen said, adding that he sees a similar issue with Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid.
He pointed towards managers such as Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola, suggesting their systems are built around discipline and collective effort rather than individuals.
He even pointed to Paris Saint-Germain winning the Champions League after Mbappe’s departure, arguing that teams become stronger when every player fully commits physically to the collective effort.
For that reason, he believes signing Mbappe would take Manchester United away from the hardworking identity they are trying to rebuild.
Questions raised over Carrick delay
Meulensteen also questioned why Manchester United have seemingly waited so long to make a decision regarding Michael Carrick’s long-term future.
He believes discussions should already have taken place behind closed doors instead of allowing recent results to dictate the decision-making process.
“Those conversations should have already been held,” he explained.
Meulensteen suggested club executives should have asked Carrick to present a detailed plan for turning United into title challengers immediately rather than years down the line.
While he acknowledged Carrick’s connection to the club and the positive reaction from players, he admitted there will still be doubts due to his lack of experience managing in major European campaigns and his lack of silverware.
Still, Meulensteen believes player opinion should play a key role in the process.
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Defensive reinforcements suggested
Away from management and Mbappe, Meulensteen also highlighted defensive additions he feels could improve Manchester United.
He admitted surprise that United failed to pursue Micky van de Ven earlier in his development and praised the defender’s physical profile.
He also backed Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, describing him as a steady and reliable option with strong technical ability.
Meulensteen believes Van Hecke’s comfort playing out from the back and his personality make him an “excellent” candidate for bigger clubs, including Manchester United.
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