Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian is in Italy to force through a transfer before the Serie A transfer deadline day on Friday.
According to reputed journalist Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Italy international Matteo Darmian is in his homeland, as he looks to finalizes a move away from Manchester United.
The transfer window for clubs in Italy will slam shut on Friday and the 28-year old, who continues to seek a move away from Old Trafford this summer, is hoping to push through a move before the deadline.
The defender has stayed at The Lowry since he returned to England from holiday last month, while his wife has stayed back in Italy. And now, Darmian has travelled back to Italy this past weekend as the United players enjoyed a day off following their 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League opener on Friday night.
Darmian arrived at Old Trafford in 2015 in a £12.7 million move from Torino and has made 86 appearances in three seasons at the club, scoring once. However, the 28-year old has failed to establish himself as a starter in manager Jose Mourinho’s setup since the Portuguese’s arrival two years ago.
The former Torino man finds himself behind club veterans Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young in the pecking order, while the summer arrival of Diogo Dalot should push him further down the list.
Last season saw the Italy international feature on just 17 occasions across all competitions, only five of which were starts in the Premier League. As a result, the player is keen on securing a transfer away in the lookout for regular first-team football.
There is no shortage of suitors for the 28-year old’s services, with a number of Serie A sides understood to be in the hunt to sign him. Champions Juventus have had a long-standing interest, so have AS Roma, while Inter Milan are also monitoring his situation.
Mourinho confirmed earlier this month that Darmian was seeking an exit from United. However, he added that the player will be sold only if the right offer arrives. Reportedly, United are demanding a transfer fee of €20 million for the 36-time capped Italian international.
While it is understood that the Red Devils wouldn’t stand in the way of Darmian’s exit if an acceptable offer is made, they are hoping that the 28-year old stays put at the club. United have been hit by injuries to Valencia and Dalot, while Young has only returned from a busy summer with England.
Having loaned out promising youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah to Fulham on the English transfer deadline day, the club would find themselves thinly stretched in the right-back department, should Darmian also depart this week.
The Italian is in the final year of his contract with Manchester United, although the club have the option to extend it by another year. The player remains fixated on securing a return to Italy, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to complete a move before the transfer window in his homeland closes on Friday at 7pm UK time.
