Manchester United legend Andrei Kanchelskis admits he would be ‘very happy’ to see Zenit St Petersburg defender Nuraly Alip make a shock move to the Premier League giants in 2024.
There has never, in the history of the Premier League, been a Kazakhstani player earning a living in England’s top flight.
Nuraly Alip, then, will be making history if he does end up at Manchester United in the New Year, reports emerging earlier this week claiming that the Red Devils had sent scouts to run the rule over the 23-year-old during Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier between Kazakhstan and Slovenia.
Manchester United eye Nuraly Alip
Andrei Kanchelskis has watched Alip take his game to a new level at Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg. And the Old Trafford icon would be delighted to see Alip carry the torch for Kazakhstani footballers everywhere at perhaps the biggest club on planet earth.
“If this move happens, I will be very happy,” Kanchelskis tells Sport Express. “This will be a big step forward for the football player. This is progress. A new football world.
“It will be a big plus for the entire Kazakh football if Alip plays for Manchester United. This will be an important moment both for him and for the Kazakh children who love to play football.
“Let’s hope he can play there. But it depends only on him. We will support and root for him.”
Alip, one of a number of left-sided centre-halves linked with a move to Manchester United, has ‘all the qualities’ to shine in England’s north west. That is according to Yusup Shadiev, one of Kazakhstan’s favourite sporting sons.
Alip’s head coach at international level, meanwhile, is keen to point out the improvements he has made with the ball at his feet, developing a passing range which would be integral to his hopes of success under Ten Hag.
Kazakhstan international could make history
“He’s very competent in his positioning. He has an excellent first pass, and good speed,” Shadiev explains to ProSports. “He is also a fighter on the field. The soul rejoices for him. He has all the qualities to play in a strong European league if he avoids injuries.”
As things stand, however, Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio – a team-mate of Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot for Portugal – appears to be a more likely acquisition, even at £52 million.
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