Former France star Thierry Henry believes Pedro will be a better player for Manchester United than Angel Di Maria. The winger is set to j...
Former France star Thierry Henry believes Pedro will be a better player for Manchester United than Angel Di Maria.
The winger is set to join the Old Trafford club after they reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign him.
The 28-year-old will succeed former Real Madrid rival Di Maria. who has left to join Paris Saint-Germain after a poor season and Henry feels the club are upgrading on the departed Argentine.
"Manchester United will be getting an excellent player if they can complete the signing of Pedro," Henry told The Sun.
"He was the perfect team-mate for me at Barcelona because his understanding of wing play was second to none.
"No one was better at applying pressure from out wide. It is a position that is in his DNA.
"It's been drilled into him by a lifetime at the Nou Camp and why I believe he will be such an important acquisition for United.
"Louis van Gaal's teams play in a structured way. He wants his players to stick rigidly to their positions and maximise their area of the pitch.
"Di Maria's game was based on running free from the right or the left. He didn't fit into Van Gaal's setup and that's why they have sold him.
"Pedro will be much more disciplined. He was more than important to Barcelona's success, even though he spent much of last season as backup for Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez."
The Red Devils started the season with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and the former Arsenal striker insists they must keep racking up points in the early stages of the season to have a shot at the title.
"Van Gaal knows he cannot afford to wait for all of his new signings to gel at Old Trafford.
"If the team don't get off to a good start, they will be out of the title race for another year.
"That is why he is signing the likes of Pedro and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
"They will understand his requirements straight away and immediately do what is asked of them.
"Pedro is generous in his defending, he can score goals and give plenty of assists. He is a great professional who will do anything for the team.
"I loved him as a team-mate and he can have a real positive impact on the Premier League."
The winger is set to join the Old Trafford club after they reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign him.
The 28-year-old will succeed former Real Madrid rival Di Maria. who has left to join Paris Saint-Germain after a poor season and Henry feels the club are upgrading on the departed Argentine.
"Manchester United will be getting an excellent player if they can complete the signing of Pedro," Henry told The Sun.
"He was the perfect team-mate for me at Barcelona because his understanding of wing play was second to none.
"No one was better at applying pressure from out wide. It is a position that is in his DNA.
"It's been drilled into him by a lifetime at the Nou Camp and why I believe he will be such an important acquisition for United.
"Louis van Gaal's teams play in a structured way. He wants his players to stick rigidly to their positions and maximise their area of the pitch.
"Di Maria's game was based on running free from the right or the left. He didn't fit into Van Gaal's setup and that's why they have sold him.
"Pedro will be much more disciplined. He was more than important to Barcelona's success, even though he spent much of last season as backup for Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez."
The Red Devils started the season with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and the former Arsenal striker insists they must keep racking up points in the early stages of the season to have a shot at the title.
"Van Gaal knows he cannot afford to wait for all of his new signings to gel at Old Trafford.
"If the team don't get off to a good start, they will be out of the title race for another year.
"That is why he is signing the likes of Pedro and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
"They will understand his requirements straight away and immediately do what is asked of them.
"Pedro is generous in his defending, he can score goals and give plenty of assists. He is a great professional who will do anything for the team.
"I loved him as a team-mate and he can have a real positive impact on the Premier League."
