Franck Kessie ended up on the losing side over two legs for AC Milan and will count himself unlucky.
The Ivorian was the best player on the pitch for 135 minutes of the two matches, before Paul Pogba entered the fray and took over.
There’s no shame in being second best to Pogba, and to be fair to Kessie, he may simply have tired a little after half-time in comparison to the fresh Frenchman.
If United are pushed into replacing Pogba in the summer, Kessie’s name should be high up the list.
Kessie is in an identical contract situation to Pogba, with his Milan contract set to expire in June 2022.
A good audition
Kessie is on record telling GianlucaDiMarzio back in 2016 he would one day ‘hopefully land at Manchester United’.
If these two matches were an audition to him, then the 24-year-old acquitted himself well.
Matched up against Fred and Scott McTominay, Kessie looked a cut above in possession, and showed an intent to attack, with three shots at goal, more than any Milan player.
Kessie also created one chance, while defending resolutely by blocking two shots.
In the first leg he scored at Old Trafford and saw the goal very harshly chalked off for a controversial handball call.
Milan will be going all out to keep Kessie this summer, just like United will be pushing to keep Pogba. It doesn’t always work out the way teams want it.
Praise from United supporters
Kessie has been Milan’s best player this season aside from the evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his physical style is made for the action of the Premier League.
United supporters on social media praised Kessie, who has impressed over the two legs. It would be impossible to find another player of Paul Pogba’s calibre of course, but Kessie could add a lot to United’s midfield if he became a target.
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