Of the numerous unsuccessful Manchester United transfers have made in recent years, Matteo Darmian is up there with them.
The defender joined United from Torino for £16m back in 2015 as they looked to solve a position which has been problematic them since Gary Neville retired.
Early indications were they had spent their money wisely, with Darmian impressing in his debut against Tottenham, so much so that he earned specific praise from manager Louis van Gaal.
He later earned the August 2015 Player of the Month award, but that proved to be the height of his time at the club, as he struggled to establish himself under both the Dutchman and his successor Jose Mourinho.
This summer saw him finally depart for Parma, but Darmian was keen to thank both managers for helping him develop his game.
“Van Gaal and Mourinho are two great coaches,” Tuttomercatoweb report him saying.
“They have won a lot, you know them. They are two great coaches who have left me something positive, and I thank them.”
Most players who had struggled at a club would look back on the move and wish it hadn’t happened in the first place.
Darmian could certainly feel that way, having seen his career stagnate at Old Trafford, where he ended up making less than 100 appearances in his four years there.
The Italian sees things differently, however, instead insisting it was an honour to play for the club and an experience he would do again without hesitation.
“The choice to go to England at the time was easy,” he added.
“Playing for such an important club was a source of pride and a great responsibility for me because wearing a glorious shirt always gives great responsibility.”
“It was an experience I would do again, very important for my career. I went to challenge myself with a different culture and football, and it certainly made me grow both on and off the pitch.”
“The first two years I played more, then the last year and a half I played less but my desire to play pushed me to leave Manchester.”
