Marcel Sabitzer: Why Manchester United Signed The Bayern Midfielder On Deadline Day

Manchester United brought in midfielder Marcel Sabitzer Tuesday, right on the deadline day of the 2023 January transfer window.

The Red Devils signed the 28-year-old midfielder from Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. This comes after Christian Eriksen's long-term injury and a short-term problem for Scott McTominay. Meanwhile, the Old Trafford side was already without Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, who was out for the rest of the campaign.

In an interview, Sabitzer admitted that as soon as he heard of the opportunity of joining Manchester United, he knew it was the right decision for him.

"Sometimes in life, you have to make quick and important decisions. From the moment I heard about this opportunity I knew it was right for me. I am a competitive player; I want to win and help the club achieve its aims this season," Sabitzer said, as per BBC Sport.

"I feel that I am at my peak as a player, and that I can contribute a lot of experience and energy to the squad," he shared, before adding that he was "excited to start with my new team-mates and manager and to show my qualities to Manchester United fans."

Without Eriksen and McTominay, Manchester United had been left with only two fit central midfielders — Casemiro and Fred ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Eriksen, who joined the Old Trafford side in the 2022 summer, sustained an ankle injury against Reading in the FA Cup at the weekend, and scans confirmed the player is set to be out of action for at least four months, which forced the Red Devils to look for a loan signing before the end of the 2023 January window.

Manchester United explored several midfield options in Isco, who is without a club at the moment, Atletico Madrid's Saul Ninguez and Yannick Carrasco, and Lyon's Houssem Aouar. However, the club eventually identified Sabitzer as an ideal short-term signing, according to Sky Sports. The Austrian player's contract does not have the option to make the deal permanent in the future.

It is understood that Manchester United managed to secure Sabitzer on the deadline day because of head coach Erik ten Hag's previous connections with Bayern Munich. Ten Hag had a brief spell with the German champions as a second-team coach there.

Ten Hag chose Sabitzer primarily because of his versatile role as the central midfielder. He has also played as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, second striker and winger during his career.

The Dutch boss will look to make full use of Sabitzer's vast experience in the Bundesliga, as he has been playing first-team since the 2011-12 season. However, Sabitzer's best outing came during his loan move to RB Salzburg in the Austrian league in the 2014-15 campaign. He scored 27 goals and provided 21 assists in 51 appearances for Salzburg in all competitions.