The Daily Maul is reporting with ever greater gusto that Manchester United are closing in on Lucas Moura. The unbelievably talented Brazilian has been linked with Chelsea and Inter in recent times but now Manchester United are apparently favourites for his signature.
What was curious about yesterday’s article in the publication was the suggestion that Chelsea have bought a better player in Oscar.
‘The feeling in Brazil is that Chelsea may have got the better player at the moment with Oscar being the man in form but there is no doubting Lucas’s potential’
If football is now simply about scoring goals then Chelsea probably have got the more efficient player. He loves to pick the ball up in dangerous areas, take a touch then hit it early. Moura has scored more goals than Oscar in his fledgling career but Oscar does look much more like an out and out finisher.
But, soccersweep still believes in the idea of football as art. Despite the fact that the game has become unhealthily money driven in the last 10 years, there are still some of us that much prefer to see skill than efficiency. A beautiful stepover, feint, backheel or pass is just as important to the game as a goal will ever be. Beautiful moments of rare skill, not necessarily goals, are what made Eric Cantona a legend at Old Trafford. Sure, Ronaldo scored some amazing and crucial goals for the club, but most remember him best for skinning a full back, or flummoxing a defender and leaving him for dead on his arse on the half way line, red faced and sore.
If football is still about entertainment and breathtaking skill, then Lucas Moura wins hands down, everytime. He is the classic entertainer with the sort of rare inventiveness that is reminiscent of Pele. Oscar, with his eye for goal and efficient use of the ball, is probabaly suited to the Cheslea way. And, accordingly, Moura is more of a United player. Like Barcelona, Manchester United fans don’t just want a winning team. They want a beautiful winning team. That’s not to say Moura doesn’t know where the goal is himself – he has 26 in 100 odd appearances for Sao Paulo.
And if United do sign this player, beautiful football is exactly what they will get. This is the most exciting potential transfer since Wayne Rooney came to the club. If he does come to Old Trafford, as one of Sir Alex’s last major signings, Lucas Moura will be mentioned in the same breath as Cristiano, Wazza and King Eric within a few years – and you can quote us on that!
.
Rob
Jul 13, 2012 at 7:40 am
To be fair, you must be right. There’s no reason the Brazilian press would know more than you about the prospects in the Brazilian League. Why should Brazilians know anything about Brazilians? It makes no sense. But then, Brazilians are like that. If only Soccersweep ran football. What a wonderful world it would be, as the Great Satchmo almost sang.
steve
Jul 13, 2012 at 7:41 am
get him with the potientals he has, he will pay ur 32 m no long will take and maybe make profit out of him
ejisco madu
Jul 13, 2012 at 8:34 am
both have not been tested in europe.so we better wait and watch.mind u braszilian players in the past have not been successful with man u.
Saheed
Jul 13, 2012 at 8:40 am
Let oscar come to chelsea since muara refuse to come.we will meet in the premiership then we will know the better player.
Jude
Jul 13, 2012 at 9:04 am
I need Oscar pls,bring him 4 us
Joobs
Jul 13, 2012 at 9:07 am
Well, a strange, strange piece based on , so far, non-transfers(as it stands Chelsea and Utd have signed neither player with little to no official suggestion that they possibly, even, might do), guesswork and a seeming desire to slight Chelsea and Oscar even though, with this summer’s actual signings it’s easy to see Chelsea are more than happy to change the type of football they’re going to be playing
The other thing is that, and I watch a lot of Samba footy, i wouldn’t put Moura down as particularly more aesthetically pleasing than Oscar in any case and making Oscar out to be merely “efficient” is scandalously shallow and shows a lack of understanding of his skillset Moura, for me, is more showy, yes, but the thing he has over Oscar, for now, is the better suited physique for the EPL but, overall, Oscar appears, for this watcher, to have the potential to fill a variety of roles in his future career and in more central, game dominating areas and is a hell of a lot more than a finisher with good ball keeping talents Moura looks a wide player, which is fine, but Oscar could end up playing anywhere from number ten, wide in a 4231 or, and Chelsea AND Tottenham seem to see a possibility of this, being the creative side of the double pivot in that formation or a number eight in a 433. His recent international showings would underline a possibility of a boy capable of a lot more than being a glorified second striker with admirable backtracking, picking up the ball VERY deep and starting things alongside his eye for goal but the new difference between the two players, for me, is the emergence of being the man who sets up the assists in Oscar’s game and it’s this I feel(for Spurs as a longer term Modric replacement), as a possibility, has Chelsea interested in a kid well capable of “beautiful” football in his own right.
I’ve no wish to run Moura down, mind, and feel he could easily be the more immediately successful player in the Prem RIGHT NOW , no, i just thought the piece was wrong about Oscar AND Chelsea.
Habeeb
Jul 13, 2012 at 9:36 am
I will prefer oscar to moura at chelsea.
Michael
Jul 13, 2012 at 9:53 am
I prefer moura cos he’s a briliant,perfect,excellent player.
Evra ßus~stop
Jul 13, 2012 at 3:58 pm
We no longer face reality, cos the truth is bitter $ometimes. Fans of both clubs are preferring theirs, not minding the duo’s all~time performances, respectively. Let’s refrain from being $entimental and pray that our wanted playmaker’s transfer $aga goes through, then keep our fingers crossed and watch who’s gonna be of immense profit to his new probable home. GGMU!!!
samba boy
Jul 13, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I don’t see why every transfer target is judged against one of a rival club and the other’s buy made to look like crap. Your piece comes off with just as much bias and lack of understanding of what’s truly beautiful about the game as the statistic lovers you take a swipe at. For starters, beauty is a subjective concept so for example for me a perfectly times tackle is far more beautiful than the flashy stepovers you like. Second of all, this article points to your lack of knowledge on both players.
Moura is a winger, with extreme pace, amazing dribbles, a decent shot and that samba flair that’s unique to that part of the world. He could very well one day be mentioned alongside some of the greats of the game.
Oscar by contrast has exceptional close control, perfect balance, solid movement, comfort in all areas of the pitch, great vision and creativity and the passing range to bring that vision to fruition. In short everything you’d want in a modern midfield orchestrator.
The reason Oscar may be the higher rated player in Samba eyes is the value attached to playmakers in the current era and the fact that Oscar is quite a bit more mature in his game than Lucas is.
Not to be a buzzkill for the United supporters but the likelihood of United actually signing Lucas is very little, especially given his pricetag and the players United have already got. For Chelsea too, Oscar isn’t a sure thing because the rumors of a deal being done have been proclaimed false by the player and his club.
BajoNigeria
Jul 13, 2012 at 7:52 pm
I like you!
BajoNigeria
Jul 13, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Why is it that any time Man u signed or try to sign a player the comparison is with a Chelsea player? ( kagawa and Hazard). Articles about Chelsea buys and targets don’t talk about Man u. Moura is excellent, good, but Brazilian player have flourished more Chelsea than in Man U. Verdict.
Brad
Jul 14, 2012 at 12:47 am
That’s pretty funny…
“Like Barcelona, Manchester United fans don’t just want a winning team. They want a beautiful winning team”
Man U plays boring ugly football. No surprise you think it looks like Barca though…ol’ head up the duff syndrome…
igbenoba chinedu
Jul 14, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I don’t like how Brazilians high there players,there always costly in the market,oscar and lucas did not what that type of money young player like that,4 chelsea and manchester united de always rival
Ray
Jul 18, 2012 at 2:52 am
Oscar Ole
saurav
Jul 18, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Moura has 26 goals in 104 appearences,not 58.