Fabio Coentrao has revealed his desire to seal a summer move to Manchester United.
The Real Madrid left-back came close to joining Manchester United in the summer of 2013 under David Moyes,only for a last-minute problem with the paperwork to scupper what would have been a season-long move with an option for a future permanent deal.
Coentrao, 27, joined Madrid for a 30 million in 2011 and has a contract at the Bernabeu until 2019, but the defender has regularly been linked with a move away from Los Blancos during recent seasons and this season with first-team opportunities being limited at the Bernabeu the Portuguese is keen to resurrect the move and switch to the Premier League.
The former Benfica man can also be played in central midfield , a position in which former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho had used him on several occasions .
Coentrao has regularly played for Madrid in big games through recent seasons, but has not featured as often for Madrid this season.
His last two starts for the Spanish club have been the 4-0 La Liga humbling at Atletico Madrid and the 4-3 Champions League round-of-16 second-leg scare at home to Schalke.
Coentrao, 27, is keen to relaunch his career, having made just nine starts for Real – and 14 appearances in total – this season and the wingback has his heart set for a move to the English giants in the summer.
Manchester United brought in Luke Shaw , Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in the summer , all Left sided players but Louis van Gaal is interested in signing Coentrao for the left flank given concerns over Luke Shaw’s injury problems this season.
a I already showed that interest in playing there,a said Coentrao. a Ita s one of the best clubs in the world, a club that I admire a lot. It would be an honour to play there.
Coentrao said he had a lot of affection for former club Benfica, but played down talk of a return.
a Everyone knows that Benfica is my home. I love Benfica and I have a special affection for the club, but I still have four more years on my contract at Madrid.
Nevertheless, the player said he was hoping to play more regularly for Real between now and the end of the current campaign.
a I hope to have more minutes at Real Madrid and that the coach relies on me more, something that has not happened up to now.a