Why Man Utd didn’t try sign Geovany Quenda as Sporting boss breaks silence on Chelsea deal | Football

Manchester United made no formal attempt to rival Chelsea for the signature of Sporting Lisbson sensation Geovany Quenda, who has agreed a deal to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Chelsea have agreed a £41million deal to sign the 17-year-old star who will remain at Sporting on loan next season before making his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026.

He is the latest wonderkid to be snapped up by Chelsea who have set about hoovering up some of the game’s top young talent with South American stars Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez set to join this summer.

Quenda made his senior debut for Sporting under Ruben Amorim, thriving a right wing-back role in his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

After Amorim made the move to Manchester last November, it was been widely reported the United boss would seek to bring Quenda with him to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.

Quenda however is Chelsea-bound, with it now emerging United never submitted an offer for the Portuguese star.

According to the Manchester Evening News, United met with agent Jorge Mendes last November, with his Gestifute agency negotiating on behalf of Quenda and his agent.

Talks did not ‘extend beyond informal discussions’, according to the report with United’s interest in Patrick Dorgu also playing a factor.

Dorgu, a natural left-footer, was signed from Lecce for £25m in January, slotting into the left wing-back role.

While Quenda has predominantly played on the right for Sporting, he is also a natural left-footed player.

Sporting Lisbon manager Rui Borges meanwhile believes Quenda will be making a ‘natural’ next step when he joins Chelsea.

‘His growth has been rapid at Sporting, it’s natural that people talk about him to big clubs,’ Borges said.

‘He’s a kid who will have to learn to live with that. The deal that’s being talked about today, I can’t go into that until the club talks about it, because I don’t know.’

Asked about Quenda’s state of mind since being approached by Chelsea, he added: “I didn’t mention it specifically.

‘It’s something he has to learn to live with, he’s been growing quickly, sometimes we forget that he’s only 17.

‘It’s natural that they’ll talk about him, they’ll link him to many clubs, that will be part of his growth. It will affect him mentally, but he has to learn to live with it.’

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