Manchester United eye Simeone’s ‘competitive animal’ at £8m despite ACL concern

We had players from Benin, Oman, Tanzania and Estonia in England’s first division. However, the Premier League has never hosted a Mozambican footballer.

That will change, however, if Man United snap up the highly experienced left-back, who could be available for as little as £8m this summer at the age of 30 and with just one year left on his contract.

Manchester United are keen on Atletico Madrid’s ace

It’s no secret that the left back position is one of the many positions of The red devils will look to consolidate in their first summer under Ineos control.

Tyrell Malacia has missed the entire current campaign through injury, while Luke Shaw has been absent for majority from her. Erik ten Hag, as if he didn’t have enough problems, had to experiment with Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Sofyan Amrabat and Victor Lindelof on the left.

Melvin Bard – a player well known to Ineos due to his time at OGC Nice – is understood to be an option under consideration. The Standard reports that Man United have held talks with the £13m-rated Frenchman.

Another option, even cheaper, could be Reinildo Mandava. The Sun report that the Atletico Madrid stopper, who would become the first Mozambican to earn his living in the Premier League, has admirers at both Old Trafford and Villa Park.

Reinildo is a left-back option for the Red Devils

Ineos, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe explained, prioritizes youth and potential in the transfer market. They won’t be looking to sign Kylian Mbappe, to quote the Failsworth-born billionaire, but they want to find Next one.

Reinildo, however, would represent a change of tack. Although, with Shaw expected to once again be United’s first-choice left-back when he returns to full fitness, the 30-year-old former Lille and Benfica man could be worth breaking with tradition, given the size of its price tag and its range of experience.

Ligue 1 champions in 2021 and having spent three years under Diego Simeone, Reinildo knows what is required at the highest level. His reported £8m price tag is also likely to attract a side with numerous signings to be made on a fairly tight budget.

The biggest concern, however, is not his age, but his injury history. Reinildo tore his ACL last February. And, since his return, he has only played 12 La Liga games. Given the injury problems Man United have had to deal with this season – particularly at left-back – we wonder if bringing Reinildo to Old Trafford would be tempting fate.

Diego Simeone loves him

“He’s a competitive animal,” Simeone said of Reinildo, not the most aesthetically pleasing defender, but a ferocious defender who likes to stick the boot.

“The team loves him a lot and he has shown what he can do; the duels, how hard it is to beat. When he overlaps to the extreme, he does it well. He has power and speed, just like when defending.

“We’re going to continue to squeeze it so that it gives us even more stuff.”