Former Man United star set to train with 18th-placed Serie A club as permanent deal is considered | OneFootball

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Former Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian is set to train with Bologna as the Serie A club consider offering him a permanent contract.

Football Italia reports that the 36-year-old free agent will join Bologna on a trial basis following an injury to right-back Emil Holm.

Bologna seek cover after Emil Holm setback

Darmian has been without a club since his Inter Milan contract expired on June 30, bringing a six-year spell with the Nerazzurri to an end.

Bologna’s need for defensive cover emerged after Holm suffered a hamstring injury during Sweden’s Nations League victory over Romania. The right-back requires surgery and could be unavailable for approximately four months.

The Rossoblu have also endured a difficult opening to the 2026-27 Serie A season, collecting two points from their first five league fixtures and sitting 18th in the table.

Domenico Tedesco was dismissed after taking one point from four matches. His replacement, Raffaele Palladino, began his tenure with a 1-1 home draw against Torino.

Bologna to assess Darmian’s physical condition

Darmian is expected to begin training with Palladino’s squad in the coming days, allowing Bologna’s staff to assess his fitness before deciding whether to register him.

The veteran defender has gone three months without a club, making his physical condition the central consideration during the trial period.

Alfredo Pedulla has also reported that Bologna have chosen Darmian as they look to respond to Holm’s extended absence.

Matteo Darmian’s path from United to Inter success

Darmian has represented Torino, Manchester United and Inter during a long career at the highest level. He turns 37 in December but did not announce his retirement when saying farewell to Inter’s supporters during the summer.

He made 218 appearances in all competitions across six years with the Nerazzurri. That successful period brought three Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia triumphs and three Supercoppa Italiana wins, as well as two Champions League runners-up medals.

His final campaign with Inter was disrupted by a calf injury which ruled him out for 19 consecutive matches across all competitions. He consequently made only nine competitive appearances in 2025-26, having featured 49 times during the previous season.

The summer brought claims of interest from Sassuolo, Udinese, Monza and Venezia, while Darmian was also said to have received an offer to join Inter’s coaching or youth staff. He remained available after the first five matches of the new Serie A season.

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