Defender is happy to be ‘off market’ to rival clubs
UNITED defender Matteo Darmian has opened up on his future at the club and claimed he is ‘off the market’.
A number of clubs, including Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona, have been linked with a move for the versatile 27-year-old this summer – but he looks set to stay at Old Trafford.
The full-back has endured mixed form and opportunities since arriving at United from Torino for £12.7m two years ago.
He impressed Jose Mourinho enough to win a starting place for the Europa League final triumph against Ajax – a match that seemed like it could be his last for United.
After the Super Cup loss to Real Madrid, Darmian gave an update to reporters on his future.
He told Mediaset Premium: “In difficult moments, I always worked hard and tried to take every opportunity I had.
“Last season I did end up playing my games, it was a good end to the campaign and I am building on that.
“Nobody likes to lose, especially when there is an important trophy up for grabs. We wanted to start strong, but instead only really got into the game towards the end and unfortunately missed a potential equaliser.
“I’m pleased that Manchester United consider me to be off the market, just as I’m pleased by the interest of Italian clubs.
“In any case, there was never anything concrete, so there’s no point talking about the transfer market. I see myself at Manchester United, I’m happy here.” FAMILIAR problems resurfaced during United’s Super Cup performance in Skopje, as their players chased Real Madrid’s shadows to avoid dehydration in the balmy Balkans in scenes reminiscent of those European final surrenders to Barcelona.
What was more disconcerting than United’s inability to retain the ball was their worryingly woeful finishing. Paul Pogba shot when he should have passed on two occasions, he nodded straight at Keylor Navas when unmarked, Romelu Lukaku intercepted needlessly and blazed over while Marcus Rashford’s Welbeckitis returned in a oneon-one.
Rashford spurned a similar opportunity in an identical scenario at Chelsea in the FA Cup five months ago. United were trailing by a goal and he had just Thibaut Courtois to defeat yet finished mercifully at the Belgian.
There is only so long United can be patient with potential and Rashford has played for the seniors for almost 18 months, figured in five finals and played across the frontline. It took Ronald Koeman just three months to inform the then22-year-old Ross Barkley, a gifted footballer who has hit a glass ceiling, he could no longer be regarded as a ‘young player’ and Jose Mourinho might have to get ruthless sooner.
Mourinho bemoaned the lack of a ‘killer’ in the United squad last term and their shooting was not great on Tuesday night.
Despite his miss, Lukaku is not a problem. He joined the elect pantheon of goalscoring United debutants which features Tommy Taylor, Denis Law, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney, which should buoy his unshakeable self-belief. Lukaku has ample Premier League experience and has already displayed a knack for scoring while struggling. His strikerate should more than offset the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose static style was often a hindrance.
Mourinho’s issue is there are no obvious players capable of scoring half as many goals as Lukaku. In United’s last title-winning campaign, Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney struck more than half as many as the 30-goal Robin van Persie and 20 players registered on the scoresheet. Last season, United tallied 17 and that figure is skewed by cameo efforts from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Josh Harrop. Some United supporters are pinning their hopes on Paul Pogba emerging as the creative fulcrum but that is Glazernomic thinking. Look at Real Madrid; beyond their marvellous midfielders who dictated play in Macedonia they had Isco, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema ahead of them while their holder Casemiro finished finely having struck the Champions League final winner. Cristiano Ronaldo and Asensio emerged off the bench and Kylian Mbappe might soon be in the Monaco departures’ lounge. United’s attack, top-heavy during Louis van Gaal’s maiden campaign, might be lopsided in the defence’s favour under Mourinho. Samuel Luckhurst