Manchester United are reportedly following the development of Atalanta’s 20-year-old attacking midfield sensation Alessandro Cortinovis.
According to a report from Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Manchester United are closely monitoring Atalanta’s Italian prodigy Alessandro Cortinovis, who is being pursued by a host of other Serie A clubs as well.
Cortinovis is a product of the Atalanta youth academy, who has been tipped for a bright future by those within the club. The 20-year-old has had an impressive record throughout his youth career, and while he is yet to make his first-team debut, the attacking midfielder has been impressing heavily with La Dea’s Primavera team.
Indeed, Cortinovis has racked up 54 appearances for Atalanta’s Primavera outfit, bagging 17 goals and seven assists. The 20-year-old was made the captain of the B team for the 2020/21 season, and he took up the new role with aplomb, leading the team from the front, producing a tally of 12 goals and 3 assists from just 24 appearances across all competitions.
Cortinovis has represented the Italian national team at all age levels starting from the Under-15s to the Under-19s, impressing at every step of the way. And the 20-year-old has now ended up registering on the radars of several clubs across Italy and Europe, with Manchester United said to be among those monitoring the youngster’s development.
Manchester United, over the years, have always been known for their propensity to develop and blood young players, a tradition that current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on restoring. Under the Norwegian, the Red Devils have looked to bolster their youth and reserve ranks while also bringing in young players who can make an impact at the first-team level immediately.
One such player that the 20-time English champions signed recently was Amad Diallo, who arrived from the Atalanta youth setup. And Manchester United may be looking to repeat the trick with the potential addition of Cortinovis, whose development they are said to closely following.
Able to play as a No. 10 or in a slightly more withdrawn role in the middle, the 20-year-old can be a handy addition for Manchester United considering as the likes of Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard are all expected to leave this summer.
And with Juan Mata also in the final phase of his contract and his career, someone like Cortinovis can be used as a squad rotation option for the No. 10 role before becoming a fully-blooded first-team member. But with several Serie A clubs already lodging enquiries with Atalanta for the midfielder, it remains to be seen if Manchester United are willing to follow up on their interest in the 20-year-old this summer.
