Long-term Man United target Nuno Mendes signs new deal | OneFootball

Long-term Manchester United target Nuno Mendes has signed a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain, putting an end to any distant hopes the Red Devils had of reuniting the Portuguese star with Ruben Amorim.

Mendes, 22, established himself as one of the best defensive prospects in Europe under Amorim at Sporting CP, thriving in the left wing-back role in the 39-year-old’s 3-4-3 system.

This position is a particularly challenging one, as the current cohort of fullbacks at Old Trafford have found out, given the demands to provide attacking threat and defensive solidity simultaneously.

In possession, the wing-backs must operate like wingers, offering width and a constant overlap behind the opposition defence. But when the ball is lost, they must instantly transition into fullback mode to help support the defence.

It requires high degrees of physical intensity and technical ability to be able to perform this role; which is why United were so keen to reunite Amorim with Mendes, who demonstrated this potent pairing in abundance in Lisbon.

Mendes’ form was so good at left wing-back, it earned him a blockbuster move to Ligue 1 champions PSG in 2021.

A Window of Opportunity

The Portuguese international signed a five-year deal in the French capital, meaning his contract was set to expire in 2026. This meant this summer would have constituted the final window for PSG to bank a significant transfer fee for their defender, if a new deal could not be agreed.

And this window of opportunity had put Old Trafford officials on red-alert over the possibility of securing their head coach the ideal solution to his ongoing issues at left wing-back with his new squad, with reports suggesting Mendes was open to the switch.

However, a deal proved too costly for United’s limited finances and there was a feeling that Mendes’ agents were utilising the link to secure a better long-term contract extension in Paris; which, Fabrizio Romano reveals, is exactly what happened.

Mendes Set to Remain in Paris

The Italian transfer guru states the Portuguese international has “signed [a] new deal” with PSG which will make him one of the club’s “top earners”.

Tweet: “EXCLUSIVE: Nuno Mendes has signed new deal at Paris Saint-Germain! New contract valid for the next 5 years, verbally agreed in December and now signed with announcement to follow. Nuno will be among top earners at PSG with salary improved and longer deal.”

While this never felt like a realistic transfer, the fact that Mendes was the perfect profile of player to fix a problem position at Old Trafford explains why the club considered an approach nonetheless.

After a deal was deemed unworkable for Mendes, United quickly settled on Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu as their primary target in the January window, eventually agreeing a £30 million deal for the Danish international.

Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images

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