Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian enjoyed an excellent start to life at Old Trafford when he moved from Torino in 2015. The Italian, purchased by Louis van Gaal impressed with some exciting and attacking displays at right back, but ended his first campaign behind Antonio Valencia in the pecking order, and has failed to overthrow the Ecuadorian in the two years since Jose Mourinho took charge of the side. Now, with a year left on his contract and interest from a host of Serie A clubs, Darmian has opened up about a potential exit from Old Trafford.
“Manchester United are [a] top [club], but it’s only normal that I want to be involved,” said Darmian to Gazzetta dello Sport in quotes carried by Goal. “I’ve still got a year on my contract and we haven’t discussed renewing. My agent knows what I want. “Juve, Inter, Napoli or somebody else – it’s not for me to say. If it were to happen, I would go for the best solution. The doors are open.
Darmian suggested that a move back to his native Italy was on the cards last year: “I was close, but United opposed it as they considered me important and I myself wanted to play there after only one year with Mourinho.”
It’s a shame to see Darmian’s career at Old Trafford peter out to nothing after such an encouraging start, but the former Italian international has fallen down the pecking order for the right back slot, and has struggled to make an impression when assigned duties on the left side of defence, too. As such, it makes sense that the Juventus target is keen to kickstart his career back in Serie A, and it might benefit United to let the player leave in order to free up a squad place for either Diogo Dalot, a summer purchase from FC Porto or even a youth product like Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
