Benfica’s failure to land Manchester United’s full-back falls in Flamengo’s favour
According to Portuguese outlet Torcedores, Flamengo vice president Marcos Braz is set to resume talks with Manchester United outcast Alex Telles as his deal with Benfica falls apart.
Telles joined Man United from Porto in October 2020 with the aim of challenging Luke Shaw for the left-back position. However, Shaw performed excellently and solidified his position as the starter, reducing Telles’ chances of playing regularly.
During his first season at Old Trafford, the Brazilian made only nine appearances in the Premier League. In the following season, he featured in 21 league matches but failed to score a goal. As a result, he was loaned out to Sevilla for the 2022-23 season.
Telles made a total of 38 appearances for Sevilla across all competitions, with 27 of them coming in La Liga. However, despite his playing time, the Europa League champions have no plans to make his transfer permanent, especially considering they do not possess an automatic option to do so.
United are set to offload the 30-year-old this summer after his disappointing loan stint at Sevilla.
Reports suggested that Telles may potentially join Benfica, providing him with an opportunity to return to the Portuguese top-flight league where he previously played for Porto.
Benfica are in need of a new left-back following the departure of Alex Grimaldo, who recently reached the end of his contract and subsequently signed with Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer.
While it is expected that Man United will part ways with the 30-year-old this summer, a recent development from Torcedores states that Benfica will not be his destination.
The defender finds himself in a state of uncertainty as the Portuguese club have abruptly ended their interest, leaving his future in limbo.
Consequently, United now faces the task of deciding what to do with a player who is unwanted and has only one year remaining on his contract. However, Telles has found himself a new ray of hope as Flamengo have been credited with an interest in the Brazilian defender this summer.
Manager Sampaoli is interested in bringing Telles to Brazil. He wants to sign an experienced left-back, and the 30-year-old perfectly fits the bill. Flamengo had previously secured a loan deal for Andreas Pereira from Man United, but talks for a permanent transfer fell through.
This latest development would be a positive one for the Red Devils since they have the best chance to offload one of their unwanted players. Telles is deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, and a move will help him gain regular minutes.
The Brazilian has already fallen behind in the pecking order at Man United, with Shaw and Tyrell Malacia favoured by Erik ten Hag. There appears to be limited space for him at the club.
Regardless, it appears that the chances of Telles receiving a second opportunity at United are slim, as the door seems firmly closed for him. Considering the stage of Telles’ career, it is crucial for him to play regularly and enjoy his final years as a player.
Therefore, a move away from Manchester appears to be the right choice for him. Although it didn’t quite work out as expected, Telles will always be remembered for his outstanding goal against Villarreal in the Champions League.
Considering the Red Devils approach to the transfer market this summer, it would be wise for them to sell players before making new signings.
More Manchester United News
- Bayern Munich to submit second bid for Manchester United target Harry Kane
- Juventus forward Federico Chiesa on Manchester United and PSG radar
- Eintracht Frankfurt price tag on Randal Kolo Munai deters Manchester United
Therefore, offloading Telles could be a sensible move. This would not only free up funds but also allow the club to strengthen other areas of the squad.
