Serie A Champions Juventus are reportedly keeping tabs on Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian.
According to Ilbianconero, Juventus have been monitoring the 27-year-old for quite some time, as they are looking for candidates who can add more quality to their already impressive defensive roster. It is likely that he is being considered to replace the Patrice Evra, who left for Marseille in January.
Darmian was a reported to be a January target for the Serie A Champions as well as their rivals Inter Milan, with whom he was rumoured to have agreed personal terms with. However, neither of those move materialised, but it is likely that he will be offloaded in the summer.
The Italian international made his first appearance for Jose Mourinho’s side this term in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie against Hull City in October, bringing an end to his exile. Overall, he has made 17 appearances for Manchester United this term, 10 of which have been in the Premier League.
Those appearances have come mainly due to an injury to Luke Shaw. However, the Englishman has since returned from injury and with Daley Blind also a candidate for that role, it is unlikely that the former Torino man will have many more chances come his way.
He last featured as a wing-back in Manchester United’s unsuccessful trip to Stamford Bridge in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Mourinho chose to go with an unfamiliar 3 at the back, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat, a result that certainly won’t help Darmian’s cause.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus are currently well on their way to winning a 6th consecutive Scudetto. They arguably have some of the best defenders in all of Europe, including the likes of Bonucci, Chiellini, Dani Alves and Stephan Lichtsteiner.
However, Alex Sandro is their only recognised full back in that squad after Patrice Evra left for and Matteo Darmian would prove to be good backup option for Brazilian. Having spent most of his career in the Italian top flight, settling in certainly wouldn’t be an issue. While it may at the very least complicate his relationship with those at AC Milan, where he learnt his trade, a return to his native country may just be what the Italian international needs to get his career back on track.
