Wayne Rooney believes Carlos Baleba will improve Manchester United and create competition for places after the club signed the midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70million on Tuesday.
Baleba becomes the third Premier League player to bolster the Reds' midfield, signing a five-year deal with the option to extend for a further 12 months.
Rooney's verdict on Baleba
Speaking on the Stick to United with Wayne Rooney podcast, the former United captain said: "I really like him (Baleba), I think he's a really good signing.
"We need another midfield player with a bit of physicality and I know he's not six-foot-four or whatever.
"But he covers the ground really well, he's aggressive, he takes the ball, and is what we need. He's a very good player who will improve the team massively.
"It will be interesting with (Youri) Tielemans, (Andrey) Santos and (Kobbie) Mainoo, but this is what it should be. Competition for places. If you don't play well, you don't play."
Previous comments on midfield needs
Rooney's comments come just a week after he claimed that United needed to add some physicality to their midfield this summer.
The former England international made it clear that he believes his former club require an air of height in the centre of the park, a very different type of player to what Baleba is.
He said: "I think if you look at Tielemans, you look at [Kobbie] Mainoo, you look at Santos, they're all small lads.
"There's not much pace among the three of them, so [United should go for] probably [Amadou] Onana for Villa - that profile. Maybe not him, but that profile of player I think is what Man United need in the middle."
Club's explanation for the signing
Explaining the thinking behind signing Baleba, United director of football Jason Wilcox said: "Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further.
"He brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad. We are delighted to further strengthen our midfield with the addition of another established senior international with a proven track record of performing in the Premier League.
"Carlos' determination to join Manchester United and his confidence that we will achieve our shared ambitions mean that he is the perfect signing as we continue to build a dynamic and entertaining team ready to compete across multiple competitions."
