Manchester United have missed out on the signing of Sporting CP sensation Geovany Quenda because they wanted to play him as a wing-back rather than a winger.
Ruben Amorim's side had been heavily linked with a move for the 17-year-old after impressing at Sporting this season. Amorim, who left Sporting to become United's new head coach in November, gave Quenda his first-team debut at the start of the campaign and he has since flourished.
Quenda has scored two goals and added eight assists in 43 appearances for Sporting and his electric form has attracted interest from clubs across Europe, including United. There was an expectation among some that Amorim would be able to convince him to join him at Old Trafford.
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However, Chelsea have managed to hijack United's proposed move for Quenda and have 'agreed' a deal for the talented Portugal Under 21s international after passing a medical, according to reports. He is set to sign a seven-year deal plus a further 12 months at Stamford Bridge, though Quenda won't join until summer 2026.
Chelsea are set to pay around £40m for Quenda's services - around the same United wanted to pay. And the Blues' move for the teenage sensation is a major blow for Amorim, even if the position he wanted Quenda to play isn't his preferred one. Amorim would have been keen to use Quenda as the right wing-back.
But journalist Ben Jacobs has now reported that the Blues managed to convince him to snub United because they offered to play him as a direct winger instead.
He said on talkSPORT: "In addition to Chelsea being able to move faster than Man United because their finances are healthier comparative to Ruben Amorim's side, the other factor in all of this is that although Amorim knows Quenda well, he used the player at wing-back.
"Chelsea's pitch is very much 'you will play as a wide, an advanced winger capable of having opportunities on both sides'. He is a left-footed right winger but also enjoys playing on the other side as well, so slightly different football pitches and Chelsea able to move faster financially speaking."
