Lyon star still hoping for Premier League transfer after blocked 2023 Man Utd move, Erik ten Hag wanted him

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Manchester United are back in Europa League action on Thursday night as Ruben Amorim takes his side to face Lyon.

There wasn’t much to shout about during Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

Neither side particularly seemed to go for the victory, leaving Gary Neville a very frustrated man.

United must put that dour derby to one side, though, with European progress now the top priority.

United travel to take on French side Lyon with a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League up for grabs.

Ineos are budgeting for European action in the coming years, and with the Europa League crown offering Champions League qualification, this competition has become hugely important.

• READ MORE: Manchester United predicted line-up to face Lyon in Europa League quarter-final clash

Nicolas Tagliafico had Manchester United move blocked

United will hope for a strong first-leg result but will be coming up against a player who almost moved to Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.

A new left back became a top target for United in the final days of the 2023 summer transfer window.

Sergio Reguilon ended up joining United from Tottenham Hotspur, but only after Ten Hag attempted to sign Nicolas Tagliafico.

The pair worked together at Ajax, and Ten Hag wanted to take Tagliafico on loan.

Lyon blocked Tagliafico’s move to United, allegedly leaving the defender unhappy given that United’s offer was considered to be ‘very good’.

Just over 18 months on, Tagliafico will now line up against United, with the Argentinian likely to start at left back.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Tagliafico admitted that he still dreams of a Premier League move despite now being 32.

Tagliafico believes the Premier League is the ‘hardest in the world’ but still wants to test himself in England before he retires.

Tagliafico’s contract at Lyon ends this summer, meaning he can move on as a free agent – potentially appealing to Premier League clubs.

United’s interest allegedly spanned multiple transfer windows, but Ten Hag’s exit earlier this season means any chance of a move to Old Trafford has surely gone.

• READ MORE: Ruben Amorim calls up 19-year-old ‘Paul Pogba 2.0’ to first-team training amid reports of imminent Man Utd debut

Nicolas Tagliafico on Erik ten Hag

Tagliafico has praised United winger Alejandro Garnacho, having played together in the Argentina setup.

The Lyon ace also moved to praise former United boss Ten Hag, despite his sacking back in October.

Tagliafico believes Ten Hag is a ‘smart guy’ who is ‘very good’ tactically, but feels the move from Ajax to United is ‘not easy’.

Ten Hag encounter bigger-name players with more experience, with Tagliafico believing that coaching younger players helped him at Ajax.

“Making that move from Ajax is not easy. United is a big club with big pressures,” said Tagliafico.

“Erik is a smart guy, very good on tactics and strategy. But at Ajax he had young players who would follow his moves, when you meet new players with more experience. It’s not always easy to get them to follow in the same way.

“It’s difficult to understand fully because I wasn’t in the dressing room,” he added.

Tagliafico will now be looking to beat United and dump Amorim out of the Europa League, with Ten Hag no doubt watching from afar.