Jose Mourinho would be wrong to sell Daley Blind

Jose Mourinho, the newly appointed Manchester United manager, is expected to bring in a number of changes at Old Trafford.

With the arrival of the Portuguese, United’s ability to lure top talent has certainly risen despite them participating in the second tier of Europe.

A number of players have been linked to the Manchester club, such ashardworking winger Willian and the talisman that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The sweeping changes would certainly be compensated by a number of departures.

According to Sky Sports, Mourinho is willing to listen to offers for Juan Mata and Daley Blind. 

The former’s departure wouldn’t drop any jaws, as Mourinho has previously axed him at Chelsea, nevertheless, it would certainly infuriate the fans.

Blind is also expected to leave, as it is believed Mourinho does not see the Dutchman as a reliable player at the heart of the defence, instead preferring physicality and aggression.

However, selling Blind could be a mistake by Mourinho, and here are three reasons why he shouldn’t be sold this summer.

VERSATILITY

When a squad is hit with injuries, every manager craves for a jack of all trades kind of player, and that is what Daley Blind is.

Blind had started out as a defensive midfielder and has gone on to play a multitude of roles for his clubs and the national team.

He has won the Eredivisie playing as a left-back for one season, then won it again the next season playing as a centre-back, and by winning the Ajax’s player of the season in 2012-13 and Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2013-14, he has shown that he is no schmuck either.

PASSING RANGE

Daley Blind is renowned for his passing range, which to be honest, is among the best. He can effortlessly switch the play, play it short or play long cross-field balls with consummate ease.

The 5-1 annihilation of Spain at the hands of Netherlands was a perfect illustration of Blind’s passing. He brilliantly picked out Robin van Persie for the equaliser and then found Arjen Robben who made it 2-1, and all this as a left wing back.

Mourinho, whose sides are not known for keeping possession, might not feel the need to keep Blind, but while playing against the lesser teams, where they would have a lot of the ball, a player like him would be pretty useful to have at the heart of the midfield who would greatly assist in starting attacks. 

HIGH FOOTBALLING IQ

Daley Blind is a product of the famous Ajax academy, where the youngsters are taught to play a lot of positions. They are taught to play a natural game, where everyone is expected to contribute to more than one phase of play.

This could be crucial when United get countered and Blind as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder can cover the full-backs with ease. His knowledge of playing in different positions will be of big help to him on the pitch.

Also, Mourinho is known to be a very demanding coach. He is known to give a lot of tactical responsibilities to his players and Blind will certainly have no problems following him.

Daley Blind should be given a chance to prove himself to the Portuguese. All these qualities, plus a willingness to follow instructions, should not be overlooked by 'The Special One'.

Should Jose Mourinho reconsider his stance on Daley Blind? Have YOUR say in the comment section below!