Luca Ercolani says staying at United would have been a waste of time

Add as preferred source on Google

Luca Ercolani made a quiet exit from Manchester United earlier this month.

The Italian defender joined Serie C side Carpi after deciding now was the time to kick on with his career. His contract was due up this summer.

Ercolani left having overcome a serious ACL injury last season, and played 24 under-23 games for the club in total, including five this season.

But there was little chance of the 21-year-old making the first team, with Teden Mengi already overtaking him. And he knew his time was up.

Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Resto Di Carlino, Ercolani admitted as such. He could not see the value of staying another half season with the under-23s.

Ercolani explained: “Everything has materialised very quickly. It was January 2 and I was about to return to Manchester, when Carpi convinced me.

“At the end of the summer, after recovering fully from the knee injury, I had returned to Manchester to start the season with the under-23s, but the club made me realise that there would be no future. Staying there another six months, it would have been a waste of time.

“I played the under-23 championship and also cup matches (EFL Trophy), as well as carrying out training with the ‘first team’, but my desire was to start immediately with the ‘greats’. “

Ercolani’s season was not helped by another smaller knee injury which caused him to miss the last five games of 2020 at under-23 level.

He’s not wrong

The move was the right one for him. He has moved to a club where there appears to be a chance of regular playing time at first team level. There didn’t appear to be an option of that at United, where even a far much more developed and better defender like Axel Tuanzebe is struggling for playing time.

Ercolani said he is glad to be making a fresh start and the destination was not overly important, although he is happy it is with Carpi.

He added: “At this point in my career, in fact, it does not count the league, nor the name of the team. We need a serious project.

“Here at Carpi They gave me the opportunity to adapt, to play it and above all to grow, in a serene and stress-free environment. I think I made the best choice.”

Ercolani might only be able to wonder what might have been if not for his injury last season, but in all probability, it just delayed his exit by a year.

United did well by him to help with a successful rehab from a serious injury and give him the chance to play for the under-23s again, when they quite easily could have prioritised the development of younger players.

While at United he was taking his UEFA coaching badges too, and praised the club for their help.

Il Resto Di Carlino reported earlier this week United will receive 10 per cent of any future sale by Carpi for the defender.

• How Marcus Rashford fared for England in 4-2 World Cup win vs Croatia
• How Bruno Fernandes fared in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo
• Tom Heaton tips resilient Harry Maguire to bounce back from England snub
• ‘Rejected’… Ruben Amorim suffers major blow as AC Milan deal for key addition collapses already
• What sources close to Patrick Dorgu are now saying about his long-term future for Man Utd
• Kobbie Mainoo says England are about to face a player Casemiro speaks so highly about, ‘Pedestal…’
• Bruno Fernandes has now told Man Utd to sign £85m midfielder who is ‘very keen’ on transfer
• Michael Carrick lifts lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe relationship as optimism brews for new season
• Graeme Souness says he’s now changed his mind about Bruno Fernandes at Man Utd
• Harry Maguire says he knows why Trevoh Chalobah has been called up for England ahead of him and Luke Shaw