Surajit Das
Transfer News: Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio set to snub Manchester United move
According to transfer news from Jornal de Notícias, Sporting’s Gonçalo Inácio wants to continue with his current employer despite attracting interest from Manchester United.
The Red Devils have spent a lot of money to strengthen their backline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Shaw, Blind, Rojo, and Darmian were enticed by Van Gaal. While Solskjaer splashed big on Wan-Bissaka, Telles, Maguire, and Varane, Mourinho signed Bailly, Lindelof, and Dalot. They still haven’t been able to eliminate the contradiction.
United’s defensive performance last season, when they allowed 57 goals, was their worst since the Premier League’s establishment. Ten Hag should forget about competing with the best teams in the nation if the defence does not become better.
The Red Devils were interested in bringing in Inacio from Sporting. However, now it is believed that the Portuguese defender sees himself improving more at his current club than making a switch to Old Trafford.
He is one of the most trusted players for manager Ruben Amorim and he wants to remain in the boss’ good books so he can have a higher chance of representing Portugal in the world cup.
Inacio, a graduate of the esteemed Sporting academy, has played a crucial role in the club’s defence ever since breaking through last season. By winning the league title the previous season, the Lions were able to end Benfica and Porto’s dominance in Portuguese football thanks in large part to his defensive contributions.
Inacio, a centre-back by trade, has continued to play well this year. With his tight control of possession and his talents in the build-up, he has drawn a lot of attention. Standing 1.85m tall, the defender is physically built to be a rock at the back and excels in aerial duels.
In Ruben Amorim’s Sporting team, the 20-year-old has already cemented his position as a starter. Excellent with the ball in his hands, Inacio can play out from the back and has top-notch passing abilities.
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The Portuguese player is versatile in terms of positions and can play either a back three or a pair. While not the tallest, he has the athletic skills necessary to thrive in the Premier League, including exceptional movement and speed.
However, it seems United have to switch their attention to other targets as Inacio has his priority set on Sporting. However, the Red Devils shouldn’t lose track of the Portuguese as Inacio might be a worthwhile choice in the future.
