Zenit St Petersburg defender Nuraly Alip has responded to those Manchester United reports for the first time while the Premier League-linked ace opens up on his admiration for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Amid all the talk surrounding Jarrad Branthwaite, Leny Yoro and co, those rather intriguing reports coming out of Kazakhstan on the other side of Christmas have been shunted into the background slightly.
But it’s worth remembering that, when a club is looking to recruit for a certain position, they tend to draw up a veritable longlist of targets. Potentially with over 20 and 30 names upon it. Nuraly Alip – hailed by Old Trafford icon Andrei Kanchelskis – may not be Manchester United’s first, second, third or even fourth choice target.
But that does not mean the rumours linking the Red Devils with the highly-rated Kazakhstan international are wide of the mark.
Manchester United reportedly eye Nuraly Alip
According to El, Man United scouted Alip during November’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Slovenia. A game in which another rumoured transfer target – RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko – found the net.
Three months on, Alip has opened up on those United links for the first time, albeit without giving to much away.
“I don’t know which club (will try and sign me) in the summer,” the 23-year-old tells Championat rather cryptically, while admitting that he has been the subject of some good-natured ribbing from his international team-mates.
“In general, I remember waking up, and they started throwing all (the rumours) at me. I won’t lie, it’s nice to see a bunch of comments and posts from Kazakhs who, in one way or another, follow me and Zenit.
“I’m not offended by the people who spread this information. I understand that football is always a lot of rumours. The team made fun of me because of this.”
Zenit ace opens up on Real Madrid admiration
With left-sided centre-halves both in demand and rather hard to come by, it should maybe come as no surprise that 24-year-old Alip has been mentioned in scouting circles. A two-time Russian Premier League champion with Zenit St Petersburg, Alip puts his physical 6ft 2ins frame to very good use but has also made big improvements with the ball at his feet of late.
When discussing the clubs he is keeping an eye on, however, Alip did not mention Manchester United while indicating that Real Madrid may be something of a dream destination.
“I myself am now following Girona and Bayer (Leverkusen),” he adds. “They are real sensations and have taken a step forward.
“In the Champions League, I look mainly at Real Madrid.”
Alip, should he arrive, could be a back-up behind Lisandro Martinez at Old Trafford.
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