After reading Record’s new article linking Nelson Semedo and Manchester United today, we’re sure of two things. First: they really want their readers to get used to this story. Second: they have no idea of where the negotiations stand.
On Tuesday, besides the big Victor Lindelof story, Record were the only newspaper to claim that the Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira had not only flown to England to sell the central defender, but also to negotiate for the right-back.
Then they make the same claims, saying Luis Filipe Vieira is already aware of Manchester United’s intentions to sign the player, even though it’s not mentioned how much the English side would want pay for him.
They’re clearly in the dark here, and this is not an easy case where you can make assumptions. Semedo has a €80m release clause, which United obviously won’t pay, so the potential transfer fee is still a mystery.
Even the time of the transfer is still unknown. To comment on Benfica’s options for the positions, they say “if he leaves in January”, kind of saying “yeah, he could leave now. Or later. Who knows?”
Considering that Semedo’s career is managed by Jorge Mendes, everything is obviously possible. But these are very weak claims for now. Bayern Munich are also said to be interested and this would only rush Manchester United to get a deal done quickly.
After all, the Red Devils wouldn’t want to lose another Mendes client to the German side six month after Renato Sanches, right?
Right now, Nelson Semedo to Manchester United seems like ‘any Benfica player to Old Trafford’ painting by numbers.
