At the end of March, Manchester United were credited with interest in Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Claims from media close to Napoli stated the Premier League club had made contact with the player’s agent, to find out more information about potentially signing the right-back.
From the outset, we explained how the whole thing felt unlikely, with the club then having Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was backed up by Diogo Dalot and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
A few days after the original report, Italian pundit Enrico Fedele seemed to question the whole thing, saying: “At the moment certain players are being advertised to the maximum, but from here to say things that don’t happen… it seems exaggerated to me. We must be serious.”
Unsurprisingly, Di Lorenzo then signed a new contract with Napoli in mid-August, with the assumption being Manchester United interest had been pushed to the media in order to help the player’s representatives get a better deal from the Serie A club.
It’s a tactic which has been used for decades, and happens repeatedly with the Old Trafford side every year.
However, the player’s agent has insisted that’s not the case, and that there was interest. Speaking to Italian radio and quoted by Il Mattino, Mario Giuffredi said: “Di Lorenzo has received many offers before the renewal. United was interested, but other big players in Europe also knocked on Napoli’s door for him.”
That remains questionable and it’s unlikely Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s will be making a move for the 27-year-old.
