Manchester United have seen their late interest in signing Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martinez fail, and Fabrizio Romano confirms that the Spanish foreigner is close to closing a deal with Inter Milan before the weekend.
The Red Devils have a number of key issues to contend with this summer, having enjoyed wildly fluctuating fortunes in the 2023/24 season in which they won the FA Cup but conceded in the Champions League, before registering just an eighth-place finish. With an alarming 14 defeats in the league, this represents the worst season in Manchester United’s history since the start of the competition in 1992 and their lowest result in a single season since 1989/90.
However, with new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe now with his feet under the table, changes began in the club’s fortunes and ensured that once back it would become a major force in English and European football.
To begin with, Ratcliffe assembled a team of state-of-the-art specialists behind the scenes with the arrival of Omar Berrada as CEO, while Jean-Claude Blanc (director) and Jason Wilcox (technical director) were also hired.
However, Ratcliffe’s plans to appoint Dan Ashworth as sporting director continue to face delays as negotiations over reimbursement between the clubs hit a brick wall. As it stands, it’s questionable whether Ashworth will be in the job before the end of the summer window.
However, Ratcliffe, along with Wilcox and coach Erik ten Hag, who has been hired and will be presented with a two-year contract extension, will decide between them who to sign, with a new defender, a central midfielder and a striker in their hands. elimination. radar this summer.
However, one area in which Ratcliffe also hopes is that of purpose.
United signed two new goalkeepers last summer: Andre Onana, on an initial £43. 8m contract with Inter Milan, and Altay Bayindir (£4. 3m from Fenerbahce), who arrived at Old Trafford.
Although Onana has kept nine blank sheets for United this season, he has not been without his complaints and, having conceded 58 Premier League goals this season, Red Devils enthusiasts would likely have been disappointed by the Cameroonian international’s impact.
Meanwhile, his substitute, Bayindir, made one appearance for the club all season – the 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport County.
Considering he is not fit for the Premier League physicality, it is perhaps no surprise that United are now on the market and contemplating options to sign up for the club as a canopy and festival for Onana, and although Bayindir could even leave after just one temporada. al North West.
As a result, reports published on Tuesday claimed that Ratcliffe was preparing an 11th-minute attempt to beat Inter Milan and capture Spanish foreign goalkeeper Martinez.
The 26-year-old has established himself as one of Serie A’s top goalkeepers over the past year, having joined Genoa on loan from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022.
That move continued last summer when Genoa paid the Bundesliga side €3. 5m to sign a deal until 2025, with one more year.
However, having held eight blank sheets of paper in 36 appearances this season, conceding just 36 goals in the proceedings, Martinez suddenly finds himself to be a wanted man.
However, despite claims that United have submitted a €12. 5m bid to test and convince Genoa to sell him, Fabrizio Romano revealed on Wednesday that the decision to take the player to Inter Milan is now in the final stages.
The trusted journalist revealed that talks on the deal would take place between the two clubs, with Inter keen to accept United’s offer, but also hoping to cut costs by providing 21-year-old midfielder Gaetano Oristanio as part of the deal.
Regardless, the two sides are expected to reach an agreement on Wednesday, with Romano describing the deal as “now in the final stages. “
Martinez, who was capped once with Spain in 2021, came to the game thanks to Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
Speaking earlier this year, Martinez claimed that one of his idols in the game, former United hero David De Gea.
“Inspiration for goalkeepers? I saw (Real Madrid legend Iker) Casillas. Then I really liked De Gea,” Martinez told EuroFoot.
“My goal or dream would be to play in the Champions League, and also to do very hard work to be able to get closer to the point of goalkeepers who are in the national team. “
Now, with his move to Inter as another step, Martinez seems keen to make that Champions League dream come true, after all.