Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian is set to join Juventus, which will be the Red Devils’ first piece of transfer business this summer. The 28-year-old fell out of favour under manager Jose Mourinho and could get more first-team football in Turin for the Serie A champions.
Darmian made 85 appearances in all competitions for United since his 2015-move from Torino, but he spent his last season in Manchester on the periphery. The Italian international made only five Premier League starts in 2017/18, leading to Juventus saving him from his Old Trafford hell.
With only one year left on his deal, United have opted to cash in now for Darmian, rather than lose him for nothing next summer. Juve have lost Stephan Lichtsteiner, while Mattia De Sciglio spent the majority of his debut season in Turin injured, leaving them short on right-back options.
Darmian is versatile, capable of playing on the right and left side of defence and is highly experienced – 36 appearances for the Italian national team. He may have disappointed at United, but clearly Juventus believe he’s a good player and could make him their first-choice in the backline next season.
United are expected to make £10m from his summer sale, nearly £3m less than what they paid for him three years previously.