Manchester United continues to maintain a solid working relationship with Portuguese club Sporting CP, despite Chelsea swooping in to sign young prodigy Geovany Quenda. The bond between United and Sporting runs deep, having successfully brought in stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, and Bruno Fernandes over the years.
Recently, they even welcomed Ruben Amorim and his coaching team to the fold after parting ways with Erik ten Hag last October. Things seemed to be lining up for Manchester United to also secure the talented 17-year-old Quenda, as numerous reports suggested that both clubs were close to sealing the deal.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Chelsea managed to clinch the agreement, leaving United to watch as Quenda opted to join the London club in 2026. You might think this would sour United’s relationship with Sporting, especially given that Quenda was high on Amorim’s wish list. But sources indicate that the rapport between Manchester United and Sporting CP remains intact.
According to GIVEMESPORT, “Manchester United and Sporting CP still have a workable relationship despite Geovany Quenda being signed by Chelsea.” It was indeed a shock to United when they missed out on the promising wingback. However, it turned out that Quenda wanted to pursue a more forward position, rather than fitting into Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation as a wingback.
Even though missing out on Quenda stung, the ongoing positive ties between the clubs may still pave the way for players like Francisco Trincão, Morten Hjulmand, or Viktor Gyökeres to head to Old Trafford. United is on the lookout for attacking talent that thrives in Amorim’s style, and both Gyökeres and Trincão seem to fit this mold.
The challenge, however, lies in the cost. Unlike Quenda, who suited the Ineos model for young, affordable talent, Gyökeres and Trincão won’t come cheap. With 11 weeks left until the next transfer window opens, it remains uncertain whether United will have the resources or motivation to target these established Sporting stars.
Featured image by Gualter Fatia via Getty Images.
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