‘Before Christmas there should be white smoke’ – Club official on Man Utd transfer target

 

Torino’s Andrea Belotti has been in sensational form this season, with 11 goals and 4 assists to his name in 14 appearances for the Serie A club.

The 22-year-old has been linked to several top European clubs, with one of them being Manchester United, but the Serie A club are keen on extending his contract.

It’s been reported Torino want to include a huge release clause in his contract for foreign clubs, which is believed to be around €94m. At that point, interest from Jose Mourinho and Manchester United was specifically mentioned by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

That was confirmed by Torino’s president Urban Cairo, but it hasn’t happened yet. Torino’s sporting director, Gianluca Petrachi, has been taking questions on Belotti, in an interview with Radio Sportiva (via Tuttosport).

Petrachi insists Belotti should sign a contract before Christmas, and that negotiations are ongoing, but it’s a ‘little articulated’.

He said: “Before Christmas, I think there should be white smoke. We are talking about it for a long time with his agent, the guy is a participant in the negotiations, but it is something a little dragged out. These things have to be done well.”

It’s unclear whether dragging Manchester United into the story was window dressing or genuine. If Mourinho was to add a striker it’s likely he’d go for more experience given the young options he already has at his disposal.