Benjamin Pavard’s outstanding display during Inter Milan’s Champions League victory over Benfica served only to pour salt into Manchester United’s gaping wounds.
Had Harry Maguire accepted West Ham’s offer during the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, the World Cup-winning France international might have been wearing the red of Manchester United rather than the blue-and-black of Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
And how Erik ten Hag could have done with a defender of Benjamin Pavard‘s poise, ability and experience. United’s latest clown-car calamity gifted Galatasaray three goals at Old Trafford, leaving the Red Devils without a single point from their first two group-stage fixtures.
And the versatile Pavard, who could have stepped in for either player due to his ability to thrive at right-back or at centre-half, certainly showed the error-prone duo how it’s done, a rock at the heart of Inter Milan’s marble-carved backline as Simone Inzaghi’s side produced a defensive display Ten Hag could only dream of.
He is a player whose qualities we all know. I was enthusiastic when the management mentioned his name to me,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi beamed after Pavard – a £30 million signing from Bayern Munich – helped keep the Nerazzuri’s sheet clean vs Benfica (Tuttomercatoweb).
“I said that he was an amazing player. He needs no introduction. He is a world champion. But the thing I like most is how he has fit into the group.”
In a performance described as ‘practically perfect’ by Gazzetta dello Sport, Pavard certainly justified Inzaghi’s decision to start him ahead of former Manchester United ace Mattia Darmian on the night.
As Fabrizio Romano points out, Pavard had been identified as the Dutchman’s number one defensive target until Maguire’s aborted switch to the London Stadium saw all that groundwork torn up.
‘Wanted to come to Manchester United’
“Pavard wanted to come to Manchester United,” Romano tells The United Stand. “The deal was almost done on the player’s side. And it was advanced on club side.
“Manchester United were prepared to pay what Inter paid for Pavard, something in the region of 30 to 32 million euros.
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