Who is Alex Grimaldo? Profile of Manchester United's target at Benfica

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Alex Grimaldo - but who is the Benfica left-back?

The former Barcelona youth player has started the season impressively in the Portuguese league, and United are reportedly keeping an eye on the 21-year-old.

Grimaldo has also been linked with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past, so here's all you need to know about him ahead of a potential switch to Old Trafford...

Background

A product of Barcelona's academy, Grimaldo actually started his youth career at Valencia before switching to the Catalan giants in 2008, then aged just 13.

He then progressed through the ranks before making his debut for Barcelona's B team in September 2011, becoming the youngest ever player to feature in the Segunda Division (Spain's second tier) in the process at the age of 15 years and 349 days.

He was waylaid by a lengthy knee injury in February 2013, missing almost a year of action, but returned to compile almost 100 appearances before departing Barcelona at the end of 2015.

Grimaldo joined Benfica in early 2016, and made his debut in the Portuguese Cup in shortly afterwards, before debuting in the league in February this year.

He only made one more appearance throughout the rest of last season, but has been a regular feature for Benfica so far this campaign, playing in all seven league games so far and twice in the Champions League. On Sunday he scored his first goal for the club with a late free-kick as Benfica thumped Feirense 4-0.

Grimaldo has featured at several youth levels for Spain and has won two caps so far for the under-21 side. He has been called up to their squad for the upcoming internationals.

Style of play

Similar in stature to Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba, Grimaldo is the archetypal modern full-back in that his main strength lies in his ability to attack.

The 21-year-old has spent some time playing as a midfielder in the past, is comfortable in possession and knows how to pick out a pass. He is also an excellent crosser of the ball and is also handy from set-pieces.

While he can sometimes get exposed at the back, experience should help develop and improve his defending, and he does possess good timing in the tackle.

What he said

Grimaldo is very confident in his own ability and and can be outspoken, and last year he publicly criticised Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique for a lack of communication before leaving the club.

"He has never told me anything,' he told Spanish radio station RAC 1. "I have not had any contact with him, nor do I have anything to say to him.

"I work with my coach [Gerard Lopez]. I get on well with him, he helps me with everything and he helps me better. Let [Enrique] be with his players higher up and let me be with my team."

Whether talk like that would go down well with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford remains to be seen.