Casemiro set to halt Man Utd blockbuster January signing as details emerge
Gianluca Di Marzio believes Manchester United star Casemiro will inadvertently prevent the club from signing Frenkie de Jong in January.
The Red Devils signed the Brazil international from Real Madrid in the summer, paying a fee of £70 million.
Their interest in his former La Liga rival, however, remains strong, with Erik ten Hag refusing to give up…
Manchester United spent the majority of the summer transfer window pursuing De Jong, hoping to strike a deal with Barcelona.
While they agreed on a fee of £70 million for the Dutch international, the player himself refused to leave the Nou Camp for Old Trafford.
United is still hoping to sign De Jong in the future, with Ten Hag driving interest behind the scenes.
However, Di Marzio believes Casemiro will, inadvertently, prevent a deal from being completed when the transfer window reopens in January.
Speaking to WettFreunenet, he said: “After they brought Casemiro I don’t think that can happen in January because they spent a lot of money on Casemiro and the players are similar.
“I think it’s unlikely they can spend another £70m or £100m on De Jong, so I don’t think that can happen in January.”
Di Marzio, on the other hand, believes Jorge Mendes will try get Cristiano Ronaldo an exit again in the foreseeable future.
Following the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League last season, the United star was eager to leave.
Despite interest from Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund, Ronaldo was forced to remain at Real Madrid.
His form has deteriorated since then, with the 37-year-old scoring just twice this season.
Ronaldo was furious on Sunday after being hooked with United trailing Newcastle 0-0 at Old Trafford.
And Di Marzio believes the former Juventus and Real Madrid star will be on the move, but he also believes the veteran is currently focused on the World Cup and that any January transfer exit will be difficult to arrange.
“I think Jorge Mendes will of course try,” he said.
“He didn’t manage to find a solution in the summer. It depends on how the relationship with Erik ten Hag and Manchester United will develop over the next few months. It got better.
“It’s difficult for him to switch in January because he’s not the type of player to switch in January.
“But even in this case it will be important how the World Cup goes. Ronaldo is focused on the World Cup so we’ll see how he will do at the World Cup and also what kind of team can afford his salary because it’s a problematic salary.
“Even in Italy, when Napoli and AC Milan were considering Ronaldo, Jorge Mendes called them because they didn’t have the right salary.
“No Italian team, no Serie A team will pay his salary. Manchester United won’t pay 75 or 80 per cent of his salary, so should they pay 75 per cent? Will they keep him?
“That depends on a lot of things, but I don’t think he’s the kind of player who can switch in January.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is not a player who will leave his side mid-season, but it’s too early to tell now because it depends on how things go at Manchester United and the World Cup.”
Casemiro set to halt Man Utd blockbuster January signing as details emerge
