Paulo Dybala reveals why his 2019 move to Manchester United really collapsed

Paulo Dybala has revealed why his proposed transfer to Manchester United really collapsed in 2019 after he almost joined Old Trafford.

During the days of Ole Gunnar Solskjær‘s reign as manager of Manchester United, Paulo Dybala dominated club headlines in 2019.

A good friend of Paul Pogba‘s, the Argentinian dynamo was incredibly hot property at Juventus, and the Old Trafford club seemed very much set on signing the then-25-year-old attacker.

Read More: Jean-Clair Todibo tells Man United stars what Sir Jim Ratcliffe will do at Carrington

However, as the 2019 summer transfer window dragged on, there seemed to be less and less movement regarding a potential deal, even though there were suggestions that the two clubs could engage in a swap deal involving Dybala and Romelu Lukaku, who had similar valuations.

It was reported at the time that the deal ultimately collapsed in early August due to a disagreement on salary, with United deeming Dybala’s requested wages as too high.

However, speaking with The Athletic, Dybala has now revealed that the real reason he never moved to Old Trafford was that Maurizio Sarri, the manager at the time, convinced him to stay.

“That summer (2019), I remember there was an approach from Manchester United as well as Tottenham, but it was more Manchester because Juve wanted to make that move,” Dybala explained as he alluded to the Lukaku swap deal that was proposed by then chief football officer Fabio Paratici.

“It was the season Juve appointed (Maurizio) Sarri, so I spoke to him to find out if he really didn’t want me on the team. After our chat, my intention was to stay. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay because I was happy (in Turin). That was my best year.”

Dybala stayed at Juventus until 2022 when he left the club as a free agent after playing 210 games and scoring 82 goals. He signed for Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Serie A and is still there to this day.

Much like the failed signing of Antoine Griezmann a few years prior, Dybala’s name represents a sliding doors moment at Old Trafford. Had he signed, who knows what the club would look like now…