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Ajax manager Frank de Boer: United signing Daley Blind 'prefers' to be a central midfielder

Reuters

Ajax manager Frank de Boer believes that Manchester United would be best served by using Daley Blind in a central midfield role, and not in the wing-back position that was attached to him after his performance at the World Cup.

The 24-year-old joined the Red Devils from the Dutch side this summer in a £14-million deal, and has been the subject of various reports with regards to where new manager Louis van Gaal will deploy him.

Blind, a holding midfielder in his youth days, has spent time at left-back, on the left side of midfield and also in central defense during his career, but De Boer thinks the player himself prefers one position over the others.

"He started as a full-back but I think now he prefers to be a controlling midfielder. I think he'll have two or three options [at United] - either at wing-back or on the left in a central midfield pairing," his former manager said, via ESPN FC.

"For Daley it's a great transfer. He's been playing for Ajax since he was 10 years old, and now he can hopefully show his qualities at United.

"He'll have to get used to the rhythm of the league first, but he's a really quick thinker and nowadays that's very important."

Blind looks set to make his United debut on Sunday, when the club looks for its first win of the Premier League season against Queens Park Rangers.

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