Manchester United have been slapped with a €60 million price tag on Cristian Romero, with Atalanta open to a potential sale.
A recent report from Tuttosport has offered an update on the situation of Cristian Romero. The Atalanta centre-back had recently emerged as a top target for Manchester United, with the Premier League giants even willing to bag his services for a fee of €45 million.
Although Atalanta are not too keen on offloading Romero, they could consider a sale in the event of a “crazy” offer. A fee of €45 million, though, is not welcome at this point, given the club spent €20 million to make his loan deal from Juventus permanent.
However, the Serie A giants might consider the possibility of a sale, should any club come up with an offer of around €60 million. It will give the club a healthy net profit of €45 million, giving them the opportunity of not only signing a viable replacement but also inject some much-needed financial boost in the coffers, after facing the brunt of the pandemic.
A product of the Belgrano youth academy in his native Argentina, Cristian Romero has been one of the rising stars in Serie A this past season. Since joining on loan from Juventus, the centre-back enjoyed a stellar campaign, forming a solid defensive partnership alongside the likes of Rafael Toloi and Berat Djimsiti.
Romero’s defensive contributions have played a major role in helping Atalanta attain a top-three finish in the league. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed either, with Lionel Scaloni picking him in the Argentine squad for the South American qualifiers as well as the upcoming Copa America.
Manchester United, too, have now expressed their desire to acquire the services of Romero, as Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer continues his quest to find a new centre-back. The Norwegian tactician is keen on finding an upgrade over the likes of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof – someone who can help the team mount a sustained challenge to Manchester City from next season.
Cristian Romero was initially viewed as a cost-effective alternative to Man United’s top targets, including Raphael Varane. However, his €60 million price tag is sure to deter the Red Devils, knowing they can sign the Real Madrid star for a similar fee.
It is also fair to point out the Premier League giants are actively trying to complete a deal for Jadon Sancho. The Dortmund winger has reportedly agreed personal terms with the club and a potential arrival at Old Trafford could further diminish United’s chances of investing in someone like Romero.
Solskjaer, though, could potentially weigh up transfer funds by offloading some of his unwanted players. Donny van de Beek, for one, is among the candidates expected to depart Old Trafford, perhaps even as a makeweight for a top target like Adrien Rabiot.
