Antonio Valencia has told Manchester United to test Chelsea’s resolve for Moisés Caicedo. He wants the midfielder next to Kobbie Mainoo, and says the pair would give United a stronger base in central areas. United are already set to make Brazil’s Ederson their first summer signing after agreeing a £35m deal with Atalanta, but Valencia is also pushing for more work in midfield.
Why Valencia wants Caicedo next to Mainoo
Valencia’s pitch is straightforward. “For me, I would love Moises Caicedo to come and play alongside Mainoo at Manchester United. They could form an incredible partnership. Mainoo could play a little freer, with Caicedo more central,” he told metro.co.uk.
That is the part of the move that matters most. Valencia is not selling Caicedo as a luxury addition, he is describing a midfield structure. In his view, Mainoo benefits from less defensive burden while Caicedo handles more of the central work.
He also praised Caicedo’s output in plain football terms. “Moises has incredible intensity. He plays the 90 minutes at the same rhythm. He does not get tired, he is physically strong, he has good technique and a good shot. He attacks well and defends well,” Valencia said.
The recent numbers back up the idea that Caicedo is still being leaned on heavily. His last five Premier League outings average 6.96, and he has averaged 93.4 minutes across those five games. That is not the profile of a player drifting in and out of matches.
United’s need for midfield help is also part of the picture. They want to add three new midfielders this summer to offset Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s likely exit. With that kind of turnover, Valencia’s suggestion is not random speculation, it fits the shape of the rebuild.
What Valencia says about United and Carrick
Valencia also made clear how strongly he still feels about the club. “Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much. My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion,” he said.
There is a small wrinkle in how his comments on M. Carrick are framed across the reporting. One account ties the optimism around United to Carrick’s work, while another focuses more on Valencia’s message of support and affection for the club. The overlap is obvious enough: he still rates the people around United, and he still wants the club to keep strengthening.
Valencia also said he sent Carrick a message wishing him success and that he thinks it has gone well for him. He and Carrick shared a dressing room in Manchester for nine years, which helps explain why Valencia is comfortable speaking so positively about him.
The bigger point is that Valencia is not talking about a fantasy signing for the sake of it. He is pointing to a real midfield need, a player he believes suits Mainoo, and a club that is already planning more change in that area. If United do chase Caicedo, Valencia has already put his case on the record.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →