Manchester United were in lengthy negotiations to sign Paulo Dybala this summer before missing out, new information from Italy has revealed.
Dybala was released by Juventus at the end of his contract in June after they failed to find an agreement to continue together. The attacker left the Serie A side with a record of 115 goals from 293 appearances for them.
It took Dybala until July 20 to sign for his next club. On that date, he officially became a new Roma player, allowing him the chance to stay in Italy.
But he could have broadened his horizons, having long been targeted for a move to the Premier League.
Indeed, Calciomercato has now revealed that Manchester United were candidates to sign Dybala after he left Juventus. A move to Old Trafford was suggested during the few weeks he spent as a free agent, but it may have been more concrete than realised at the time.
According to the Italian website, Manchester United negotiated for a long period of time with Dybala’s agent before he slipped from their grasp.
The same went for Inter Milan. Unlike Jose Mourinho’s current or former side, they could have offered Dybala continued involvement in the Champions League.
Instead, he was tempted to Roma, where he has made a good start. From his first six appearances for the Giallorossi, he has scored three goals and provided two assists.
The most recent of those goals was an effort from outside the box against Empoli on Monday night. It has prompted further talk of his talent – which, in all honesty, few of his teammates can match – in the Italian media.
The 28-year-old’s form is already showing other, perhaps more high-profile suitors what they are missing out on.
Man Utd could have competed for Dybala
Even more frustratingly for powerful clubs like Manchester United, Roma have got Dybala on a relatively sustainable salary. He is earning €4.5million net per season, which would roughly equate to around £75,000 per week.
Bonuses can take his earnings up to €6million per year, which still would only be £100,000 per week or thereabouts.
Those kind of figures – a decrease on his last contract with Juventus – are towards the upper reaches of what Roma can afford. But Manchester United would have been able to compete financially.
Instead, they strengthened their options with the signings of winger Antony and attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer. The Red Devils also managed to keep hold of Dybala’s former Juventus teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps surprisingly.
Both Roma and Manchester United are in the Europa League this season. It will be interesting, as a side note, to see who goes further in the competition.
Dybala, from his perspective, will just be focusing on Roma now. His contract with them is due to run until 2025. Perhaps any hopes of seeing him in the Premier League one day will have faded definitively if he fulfils it.
For Manchester United, although Antony has made an impression already, it may be a question of what might have been.
