“I was delighted…” Kieran Trippier explains how Manchester United move FAILED in 2021

Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier has revealed he almost signed for Manchester United back in 2021 after the Euros.

Manchester United have been linked to many players over the years, and one of the longest sagas was that of Kieran Trippier when Ole Gunnar Solskjær needed a right-back.

At that time, Diogo Dalot was not the player we now see under Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese international was struggling with injuries and inconsistent form, coupled with Aaron Wan-Bissaka‘s brilliant defence abilities.

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With Dalot on loan at AC Milan, United were keen on bringing in the then-Atletico Madrid defender, and he has now revealed just how close a move came.

Links were at their peak during the summer of 2021, and Trippier has explained that the move just “fell away”, and he wasn’t able to join the club he grew up supporting as a young boy.

“I wanted to come back to England, my family were finding it very difficult,” he told The Overlap.

“I could’ve stayed at Madrid, I could’ve signed a new three-year contract, but as a player, you have to be realistic about where you can go. I couldn’t go to City or Liverpool. I was restricted to certain clubs.”

“Manchester United came in, though, didn’t they?” Gary Neville asked.

“Yeah, United came in straight after the Euros, and that was very close, obviously growing up being a red as well with all my family, but it didn’t happen.

“Everything happens for a reason; it just fell away, really.”

Although Trippier has shown his class since his move to Newcastle United in the next transfer window, January 2022, the decision ultimately went United’s way.

Dalot has since become a force to be reckoned with at right-back, recently winning the squad’s 2024 Players’ Player of the Year award.

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