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After breaking onto the scene in 2016 as a 20-year-old striker, Andre Silva has made a career of scoring goals over the past five years. His debut season with FC Porto in Liga NOS earned the Portuguese striker a lavish move to AC Milan the very next season, but things didn’t go as planned. Silva struggled to adapt to life in Serie A, and was only given time to perform for his team in the UEFA Europa League, where he scored 6 goals in his 10 appearances. The very next season he moved to Sevilla and struggled to fully adapt to the pace of La Liga, scoring just 9 league goals in 27 games. After failing to truly establish himself at two of Europe’s elite clubs, many wondered whether the hype regarding Silva back at 20-years old was too good to be true. Eintracht Frankfurt however were willing to take a shot at the striker, and ever since then he has re-established himself as one of the world’s best forwards.
Andre Silva is clinical in the box and has a deadly eye for goal. His movement off the ball is impeccable, and he fulfills an important role in both their press and build-up. While his first season at the club was positive, scoring 12 goals in 25 league games, this season Silva has taken his game to new heights. The Portuguese striker has scored a whopping 25 goals with 4 assists in 29 Bundesliga matches so far. Dominant in the air and clinical in front of goal, Silva has been an absolute nuisance for opposition teams to contend with. So much so that only Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski have scored equal or more goals, or hold better goals per minute ratios. He’s in good company, and making waves enough to catch the eye of some of Europe’s elite clubs.
For his fantastic performances this season and overall reputation scoring goals, Andre Silva has attracted the attention of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United. Here we break down each of his potential suitors, and what he might bring to each club.
ATLETICO MADRID
Silva would be a natural fit for Atletico’s style of play, due to his intense aerial presence, solid hold-up play and aggression in defense. He plays very similar to Luis Suarez and has the potential to develop equally clinical assets in front of goal. Silva is also comfortable playing in a front-two, having done so throughout his time with Frankfurt, and would fit into either of Simeone’s first choice formations (3-5-2 and 4-4-2) as a result.
REAL MADRID
Real Madrid still have one of the best, most durable strikers in the world in Karim Benzema. But Benzema is 33-years-old now and the club have been in a perpetual search for an adequate plan ‘B’ ever since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. They thought they’d found their man in Silva’s teammate Luka Jovic, but then never played the Serbian striker after his arrival. The same could easily happen to Silva, who’s failed to truly establish himself at a Spanish club before. Having a bit more experience and a bit more of a reputation for scoring goals than Luka Jovic, Andre Silva could fare better than the Serbian with Los Blancos. But Zidane’s team are probably not the best fit for the Portuguese’s style of play.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Like Real Madrid, Andre Silva might not be best suited to Borussia Dortmund’s style of play. While he operates well with his back to goal, he will need to significantly improve in possession of the ball and in his ability to link up with those around him through quick one-touch combinations. Further, while Silva is incredibly fast, he is not as electric as Dortmund strikers of the past and present, such as Erling Haaland and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He would be a decent Haaland replacement in that he would likely score many goals, but his style of play and Dortmund’s style of play are certainly not a match made in heaven.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United on the other hand would likely provide the perfect home for Andre Silva. Unfortunately, this seems a bit far fetched and United might not even be in the market for a new striker now that it appears they’ll be wrapping up the signature of Edinson Cavani for another year. But Andre Silva can operate in very similar ways to Cavani, with impeccable movement off the ball and his natural ability to come alive in the penalty box. Silva’s finishing is of the highest quality, and Manchester United are a team that naturally create chances for their striker. This would suit Andre Silva well, and continue to allow him to play on the break rather than in a side so focused on possession like Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
THE VERDICT
With all of this in mind, we suggest Andre Silva sign for Manchester United or Atletico Madrid, or simply stay at Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt seem to be the perfect fit for the Portuguese forward at this time and it might not make sense to risk losing everything he’s built for himself over the past two seasons. If he were to move, Atletico and United would be natural fits to bring out the striker’s best qualities.
So where do you think Andre Silva should go? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter @bundesligatms.
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