18 Jul 2025 00:08:37
Might be contrary to most opinions but I'd rather we went for Fofana instead of Rodrygo.
In my opinion:
- Rodrygo: more experienced at higher level. More versatile. Very expensive and high wages. Will unsettle Gakpo (surely Rodrygo would come as a starter) .
- Fofana: looks faster and stronger (better suited to PL) . Cheaper and lower wages (both probably half or less of Rodrygo's) . Would share minutes more evenly with Gakpo I imagine.
I personally feel we'd get similar output from Fofana and Rodrygo at a much lower cost (fees and wages) and continue to see Gakpo often who's getting good returns.
The only plus for me with Rodrygo is that he seems more versatile to play across the front 3 but rumours are he wants to play in his preferred left wing.
Also, if both Diaz and Nuñez go, and Chiesa ends up staying, then I feel like he can be the versatile player who covers the front 3 so having Fofana as predominantly a left wing option would be fine.
Thoughts?
18 Jul 2025 01:06:45
I’ve not seen anything of Fofana but I’ve never really been that impressed by Rodrygo. That being said he’s held down a place in Real Madrid’s team for a few years so there must be something there.
To be honest I’ll trust the club to make the decision and if Rodrygo comes and wants to play his preferred left wing he’ll learn pretty fast he’ll play where he’s told to play.
Gakkers is our current left winger and deserves to keep his spot until he loses form or gets an injury. Then Rodrygo will get his chance and it’s up to him to take it.
18 Jul 2025 02:23:57
Why do we - as fans - care about costs?
All things being equal, Rodrygo is a far better player than Fofana in a superior league. Rodrygo is rapid but he also has a better touch which is crucial in the PL where you don’t get as much time and space.
18 Jul 2025 03:19:23
I care about costs being used well.
18 Jul 2025 03:58:30
It’s ok to have two very good players for the same position. In fact it’s the aim to have two very good players in every position. Just because we have Gakpo doesn’t mean we can’t have other nice things.
18 Jul 2025 06:35:28
Rodrygo is a good footballer, on that most of us will agree. None of us know what his wages would be but I'm pretty sure the club is not going to break the wage structure for Rodrygo. If he's better than Fofana then he's the one I would want the club to sign.
18 Jul 2025 06:39:02
I think cost of a player is relevant Ron as we still have other gaps to fill and may do in the future.
Eg centre back still needed.
18 Jul 2025 07:15:54
Fofana is a diamond in the rough. Rodrigo has better technique and is more polished.
In terms of value for money, I might agree with you though.
18 Jul 2025 07:21:29
I personally feel like Rodrygo would improve us and is less risky than Fofana as he has done it at a very high level despite still being quite young, but either/ or as long as we keep improving the team and the new players fight for our club I’ll back anyone who wears the jersey!
18 Jul 2025 08:17:21
Ben Segir.
18 Jul 2025 08:24:29
I've not seen much of Fofana but I cannot for the life of me imagine he is anywhere close to the level of Rodrygo. Rodrygo has regularly been the clutch player for Madrid in the Champions league. They would have at least 2 less Champions League trophies without his huge goals in the last 4 or 5 years.
Fofana might well have the higher ceiling, I don't really know. I've only seen him play once against Man United and to be quite frank, he did not stand out remotely in the 60 odd minutes he was on the pitch. In a really open and end to end game (which should favour fast players) where there was 4 goals scored by Lyon, he didn't even get a single goal involvement. He also came on as a sub against tired legs which again should favour pacey players but he was, dare I say it, useless.
Compare that to big games in the Champions league that Rodrygo has had for Real Madrid, and it's night and day. I think back to that game in 2022 when Man City led 4-3 going into the second leg, and Rodrygo came up trumps with 2 late goals to lift Real Madrid out of the dirt. That was peak Man City as well. Not a Man United side in an absolute mess.
I can only judge by what I personally have seen. From what I have seen Rodrygo is a standout match winning player at Champions League level, and Fofana is an average squad player/ impact sub at Europa League level.
18 Jul 2025 08:59:21
Rodrygo hasn’t played in his preferred position much at Madrid, so surely he’s going to be hard to judge, if he’s played on the left he might surprise a few.
18 Jul 2025 09:50:03
If we didn’t have Rio, I’d say Fofana as a project, but we do so I’d rather go for Rodrygo.
18 Jul 2025 10:15:41
Not a bad shout there, Zed. I can see the logic.
18 Jul 2025 13:11:31
Very interesting thoughts all around. Love it, thanks all.