Braga goalkeeper Matheus admits he held talks with Erik ten Hag over a move to Premier League giants Manchester United over the summer.
Only a day or two after Odysseas Vlachodomis also confirmed Manchester United’s interest – the Greece international leaving Benfica for Nottingham Forest instead (Gazzetta) – his former Primeira Liga counterpart also shone a light on the Red Devils’ pursuit of a new number two.
After bringing in Andre Onana from Inter Milan, United found themselves scouring the market for an affordable back-up. And, after Zion Suzuki turned them down for regular first-team football in Belgium and after talks with Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow, Ten Hag apparently turned to an experienced, 31-year-old shot-stopper who has spent nearly a decade between the sticks in front of Braga’s oh-so-picturesque, quarry-carved stands.
Manchester United held Matheus talks
Braga goalkeeper Matheus has explained talks took place that would have involved him leaving the club he has been at since 2014, after he signed from Atletico Mineiro.
“When you receive the contact and see that, (the interest of) a big European club… It moves you,” Matheus tells TNT Sports.
“You’re a boy who leaves Brazil full of dreams and you always see these big clubs on the TV. You follow them in the Champions League, the Premier League. The great players who have played there. David Beckham, David De Gea…
“The guys (from Manchester United) got in touch with me. I spoke to the coach. It was Ten Hag.
“I think it makes us (players) proud, because I think it shows that you’re on the right track. That you’re keeping your feet on the ground, you’re doing your job.”
‘It didn’t work out’
Man United would turn to Altay Bayindir instead, triggering the £4.3 million release clause in his Fenerbahce contract. Not that Matheus is too disappointed, the long-serving glovesman closing in on his centenary season at Braga.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” Matheus adds. “It’s God’s plan. Maybe, if I went there, something would have gone wrong. But the important thing is that I feel very happy here at this club.
“This club opened its doors to me. It’s a great club that has grown every year. So I’m happy to be part of this club.”
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