Solskjaer shares why Manchester United didn’t sign £115m star

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Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has shared just why a deal to sign Moises Caicedo never materialised.

United have invested considerable money in midfielders over the years.

Fred, Donny van de Beek, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, now Mason Mount – United haven’t been shy when it comes to spending on midfielders.

It’s fair to say that some of that money could have been better spent, and also that United arguably missed out on a midfield worth more than all of those mentioned.

Manchester United wanted Moises Caicedo

We’re talking about Moises Caicedo here, who could have been an absolute bargain addition for United.

Reports in Ecuador suggested that United were on the verge of a £4.5million deal to sign Caicedo from Independiente del Valle.

However, Brighton and Hove Albion managed to nip in and get the deal done; one of the big sliding doors moments for United in the last few years.

Caicedo was a bargain signing for Brighton who ended up becoming one of the top midfielders in the Premier League.

Caicedo went from a £4.5million signing to a staggering £115million sale as Chelsea paid up big money in August.

People inside United must be kicking themselves now with Caicedo becoming a star; somebody who could have made a big impact at a low cost before being worth big money.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comments on Caicedo missed chance

We can understand that maybe Caicedo’s development would have been different had he joined United instead of Brighton.

Yet it’s hard to escape the feeling that United really missed out on a top talent when not getting that Caicedo deal over the line in 2021.

Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who was in charge at the time of the Caicedo chase –  has now opened up on the situation.

Solskjaer has told The Athletic that United did discuss moving for Caicedo but felt he wasn’t the right fit.

United needed more immediate impact players in Solskjaer’s mind and that’s why the deal for Caicedo wasn’t pushed through.

Solskjaer noted that Brighton are really good when it comes to allowing foreign players to settle, believing that Caicedo simply wouldn’t have enjoyed the same ‘luxury’ at Old Trafford.

“We discussed Moises Caicedo, but we felt we needed players ready for there and then,” said Solskjaer. “Brighton are very good at letting players come from abroad and find their feet for a year and a half. At United, you don’t have that luxury and that has cost the club loads of players,” he added.