I will love to play for Man United – Agent reveals Man United explored a move this summer for £84m Palmeiras star Midfielder

I will love to play for Man United – Agent reveals Man United explored a move this summer for £84m Palmeiras star Midfielder

Manchester United explored a possible move for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios in the summer transfer window, according to football agent Sabatino Durante.

Rios, who made 94 appearances across all competitions, joined Palmeiras from Guarani in March 2023 and rapidly established himself as a vital member of the Brazilian team.

The highly regarded 24-year-old, who is well-known for his passing prowess and perseverance when without the ball, has also earned 17 caps for the Colombian national team and was a key member of that team at the Copa America this year.

Europe has taken note of Rios’ achievements; throughout the summer, AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Fulham were all said to have expressed a keen interest.

FIFA agent Durante, who has orchestrated high-profile transfers for players like Philippe Coutinho, Luka Modric, and Ronaldo, claims that Manchester United is also a big fan of the Colombian.

However, Rios has an eye-watering £84million release clause in his contract at Palmeiras and Durante believes potential suitors were priced out of a potential deal.

‘[Fiorentina technical director] Roberto Goretti and I always talk. It is clear that we talk, we exchange opinions,’ Durante told Radio Firenze Viola in Italy.

‘Roberto was the first to get to Richard Rios, the Palmeiras midfielder. The problem is that there was the Copa America, and the price went up.

‘After that, other clubs like Manchester United arrived. In Brazil, the shops are expensive. Just look at Andre, from Fluminense, who went to Wolverhampton.

‘Goretti would have taken him but, in Brazil, you have to spend a lot of money.’

United decided against pursuing a deal for Rios and instead focused their attentions on Manuel Ugarte, who completed a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of £42m in late August.

Ugarte has been used sparingly since arriving in the north west, though, and was left as an unused substitute by Erik ten Hag in the Red Devils’ last two matches against Porto and Aston Villa.

There are also doubts surrounding Ugarte’s involvement in United’s upcoming clash with Brentford after the midfielder was forced off with an injury in Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier with Ecuador on Tuesday.

In addition to Ugarte, United signed Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined total in excess of £170m across a busy summer transfer window