Man United were close to signing ‘priceless’ Premier League star before Erik ten Hag intervention, reveals agent

An agent has revealed that Manchester United were close to signing a ‘priceless’ Premier League star before Erik ten Hag intervened.

The Reds were looking for goalkeepers last summer after David de Dea left the club following 12 years at Old Trafford.

Dean Henderson also departed, with Altay Bayındır coming into United as the new backup goalkeeper.

It was then decided that André Onana would be the new no.1 after an agreement was reached with Inter Milan. The Cameroon shot-stopper cost around £43 million.

However, United had various options, and one player they were considering was Aston Villa and Argentina’s no.1 Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez has been key for club and country in recent years, and his agent, Gustavo Goñi, has even revealed that he was the first-choice option for many at Old Trafford last summer.

However, Ten Hag was keen on Onana, who he previously worked with at Ajax.

Goñi said, as per Birmingham Mail, “Last year we were close to Manchester United, but the manager then opted to sign Andre Onana because he already knew him.

“But all those at Manchester maintained that the ideal goalkeeper to win with was Emiliano Martinez.”

The Argentina goalkeeper once again made the headlines this week after saving his country in another penalty shootout during the Copa America after Lisandro Martínez scored his first goal for the country.

Aston Villa will compete in the Champions League next term after finishing fourth in the 2023/24 Premier League.

While there are murmurs surrounding his future, Goñi says that the Villians consider him ‘priceless’ and want to keep him.

“He’s under contract at Aston Villa until 2027 and the club does not want to sell him,” the agent added. “He is one of the main players in the team that secured Champions League qualification 42 years later.

“We don’t know where he will play, we are in conversations. Aston Villa want to keep him at all costs. He is priceless.”

Onana had difficult spells during his first season at United, particularly in the Champions League, but will be hoping for a much-improved 2024/25 campaign with a stronger all-round team.

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