Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly considering Thiago Motta as a potential Erik ten Hag replacement with Wesley Sneijder full of praise for his one-time Inter Milan team-mate.
A decade or so ago, during the dying embers of the glorious Sir Alex Ferguson era, barely a window went by without Manchester United being linked with a move that would have seen Wesley Sneijder bring his fierce long-range shooting and playmaking poise to Old Trafford.
Flash forward to 2024 and, with Erik ten Hag fighting for his future under Ineos, United are reportedly now looking into the man who did much of the dirty work during Inter’s treble-winning 2009/10 season, providing the platform upon which Sneijder could thrive.
Thiago Motta, in his playing days, was a supremely intelligent, deep-lying midfielder blessed with an exceptional reading of the game. Two attributes that are serving him well in management too, Motta’s Bologna side punching well above their weight and chasing Champions League qualification.
Manchester United linked with Thiago Motta
According to TEAMtalk, Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are now discussing the prospect of Motta bringing his attractive, flexible and ‘unique’ tactical approach to England’s north west.
“He is doing fantastic,” Sneijder tells RTL7 of Motta.
“I played with him. He was a player who was underrated. As a player, he could already read the game and set the lines. He now does that again as a coach.”
Roberto de Zerbi, another of the managers linked with Ten Hag’s job, admitted last week that he is studying Motta in an attempt to further hone his own methods at Brighton and Hove Albion.
“Motta brought something unique to Italian football,” De Zerbi tells TMW. “I’m studying it a lot. I had the matches sent to the tactical room because it intrigued me.
“We have different principles. (But) there is something in common, such as command of matches and courage.”
Cesc Fabregas tips Bologna boss for Barcelona
With two of Motta’s old employers – Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona – reportedly keen on the Brazil-born former Italy international too, it’s no wonder Bologna CEO Claudio Fenucci is at pains to point out just how highly the 41-year-old is regarded at the Rossoblu.
“Thiago has really absorbed Barca (style) football,” adds Cesc Fabregas.
The former Arsenal captain knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed at the Camp Nou (Esport3).
“He knows the club and I like the football he wants to play,” Fabregas adds. “I’m sure he can adapt perfectly to Barcelona’s system.”
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