Transfer Centre

Leandro Paredes 'rejected chance to join Manchester United'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 13 August 2022

Leandro Paredes 'rejected chance to join Man United'

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes reportedly turned down the chance to join Manchester United this summer in favour of a switch to Juventus.

Paris Saint-Germain's Leandro Paredes reportedly rejected the chance to sign for Manchester United as he holds out for a switch to Juventus.

The 28-year-old fell down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino at the Parc des Princes last season, making just 15 appearances in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season - starting 10 of them.

Injuries bedevilled Paredes for a large chunk of the campaign, but the Argentine's prospects of a revival are seemingly slim under Christophe Galtier, who has favoured a two-man midfield in his early days in Paris.

Vitinha and Marco Verratti have formed Galtier's first-choice midfield pairing so far, while Renato Sanches, Danilo Pereira and Ander Herrera are also competing for spots in the engine room.

With PSG also understood to be on the verge of winning the race for Napoli's Fabian Ruiz, the Ligue 1 champions are determined to offload Paredes before the summer window slams shut.

Leandro Paredes in action for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2022 © Reuters

According to journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Man United made an offer to try to sign Paredes for the 2022-23 season, but the former Roma and Zenit St Petersburg man rejected the Red Devils' advances.

Pedulla adds that Paredes is pining for a move to Juventus, who are in the market for a new man in the midfield after Paul Pogba suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training.

Paredes has three goals and 10 assists to boast from 115 appearances for PSG in all competitions and won his third French top-flight title with the capital club last term, and his deal at the Parc des Princes runs until 2024.

Man United are desperately searching for a new lynchpin to compete with Fred and Scott McTominay in the coming weeks but are yet to make any great strides in their continued efforts to sign Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.

The Red Devils' search for alternatives has apparently taken them to Juventus, with Adrien Rabiot being strongly linked with a move to Erik ten Hag's side over the past week.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot pictured on January 12, 2022 © Reuters

John Murtough was recently spotted in Turin as he attempts to thrash out an agreement on personal terms with the Frenchman's mother, but his hefty wage demands are thought to be holding up a deal.

Man United are already believed to have struck an agreement on a fee with Juventus, who would receive an upfront payment of £15m potentially rising to £20m with add-ons for Rabiot.

Massimiliano Allegri's side would then use the funds accrued from the Rabiot deal to swoop for Paredes, who is not the only PSG player to be linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Ten Hag's side could be in the market for a new striker amid Anthony Martial's injury woes and are believed to have been in contact with the wife and agent of Argentine striker Mauro Icardi.

The future of Cristiano Ronaldo has been shrouded in uncertainty the entire summer, but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is now reportedly set to stay at the club for the 2022-23 season.