Defender Manchester United sold for £14m is playing ‘like prime Maldini’ now

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Former Manchester United and Premier League defender Daley Blind is playing ‘like prime Paolo Maldini’ with shock La Liga leaders Girona.

While the cynics appear determined to turn Girona’s fairytale story into a rather Grimm tale – highlighting the connection between Europe’s highest high-flyer and Manchester City – there is an inarguable sense of romance about their stunning emergence as genuine title-challengers.

As Terry Gibson explains, the former Manchester United forward speaking on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast, ‘there are shades of Leicester City’ about the way Girona have taken La Liga by storm. A squad of bargain buys and misfits-made-good playing the best football of their career.

Former Manchester United ace shining in Girona

Take Daley Blind, for instance. A 33-year-old defender signed on a free transfer over the summer after featuring just five times during a forgettable spell at Bayern Munich.  

“It’s astonishing,” Gibson smiles. “I’m looking at Daley Blind. He looks like prime Paolo Maldini at the back!”

Blind, sold by Man United for £14 million after four seasons at Old Trafford, has silenced those who felt his time at the very top level was over. The veteran centre-half is not only the best bargain buy of 2023/24 but also a central pillar in Michel’s tactical gameplan, Girona moving the ball from back to front at a rapid rate yet with guile and finesse.

Girona nine points clear of Barcelona in La Liga

“It’s one of the things I like, they play out from the back but they play quickly,” Gibson adds. “They are not a team who play half a dozen passes when it’s 0-0.

“As soon as they get it, that back three are looking to play into midfield. And, from then on, it’s just free-flowing, attractive football.

“They are fabulous.”

Girona have won a remarkable 14 of their 17 La Liga games this term. They are nine points clear of Atletico Madrid and a Barcelona side who were swept away by a red-and-white tide as Girona cruised to a 4-2 win away to their Catalan rivals earlier this month.