Manchester United’s new CEO – Omar Berrada – was known colloquially as ‘the No man’ down the road at rivals Man City.
In short, he was often the guy who would put the breaks on transfer talks he felt had gone too far. On numerous occasions, Berrada saved City from overspending, turning their attention to players who represented far better value for money.
A case in point; It was Berrada, The Times report, who shifted Man City away from the £80 million Harry Maguire with Ruben Dias – the 2021 Premier League Player of the Season – arriving shortly afterwards for much less.
So it can be presumed with a degree of confidence that Berrada, who crossed the divide when becoming Manchester United’s new chief executive in a ‘masterstroke’ of a move, was at least partly responsible for the Red Devils cooling their interest in Jarrad Branthwaite and Manuel Ugarte.
United turned to Matthijs de Ligt after Everton refused to soften their £70 million stance on Branthwaite. The same fate may befall De Ligt now too, with Bayern Munich also reluctant to drop their prohibitive asking price.
And with there a £20 million gap between the fee United offered for Manuel Ugarte and the fee Paris Saint-Germain wanted, the FA Cup winners are also now scouring the market for more affordable alternatives in midfield.
Manchester United cool interest in PSG’s Manuel Ugarte
Sander Berge of Burnley has emerged as a viable option. There is some interest in Fluminense’s Andre Trindade too, per reporter Ben Jacobs.
While Fulham remain interested – particularly after failing to agree a deal for United’s own Scott McTominay – one South American expert feels that Andre could be the disciplined, deep-lying Kobbie Mainoo partner Erik ten Hag is crying out for.
“The complication from a Fulham point of view could be Man United,” Tim Vickery tells talkSPORT. “Because this is a central midfielder who can sit alongside Kobbie Mainoo. Something that United clearly need and are looking for.
“They have been looking at Manuel Ugarte. That’s going to cost a lot of money and their interest has cooled.
“So it’s possible that United could enter the fray (for Andre) and pay a lot less for him than they would for Ugarte.”
Fulham are long-time admirers. Liverpool too. Man United’s north west neighbours had a £26 million bid rejected by Fluminense back in 2023, as confirmed by president Mario Bittencourt.
Vickery feels that the Copa Libertadores holders are dreaming if they think they are capable of holding out for such an eye-watering fee these days, however. Speculation, he says, has ‘gone very quiet’ around Andre.
And Vickery feels there are a few key reasons why.
A tough year for the Brazil international
“Last year, he was in demand,” he explains. “There were big offers for him and Fluminense decided to keep him because they were in the running to win South America’s Champions League.
“He picked up a series injury earlier this year, so he’s only just come back from it. That’s something that pushes his value down. Secondly, he’s just turned 23.
“23 is often the cut off point (for European clubs to sign South American talents). So puts his value down. Thirdly, he’s not been in the Brazil (team). He was playing for Brazil last year.
“So, for all of these things, they are not going to get what they wanted for him last year. Not a hope.”
It has been a difficult few months for Andre, who missed around eight weeks of action from March to May.
Of course, if Man United are willing to overlook a tricky 2024 and focus instead on Andre’s impressive 2023 form, there may be a bargain deal there to be struck.
Vickery certainly has few doubts about the Fluminense number seven’s quality or potential, having watched Andre play with his trademark swagger and style up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side in the Club World Cup final.
“You might remember Andre against Man City,” Vickery recalls. “He receives the ball two yards from goal under enormous pressure and dealt with that very, very well.
“(Fluminense give Andre) a lot of space to cover because often they would defend with a high line, quite
often chasing the game. They would take a centre-back off and make him cover centre-back as
well.
“So he covers wide areas. He’s good on the ball. He’s a very interesting player.”
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