Manchester United invested in a new left wing-back in January as Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu completed a move to Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim was appointed as Manchester United boss in November, and that meant a switch to his 3-4-2-1 system.
A true left wing-back was required, and United pounced to sign Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu from Lecce.
The Dane has shown potential in the early stages of his United career, and the hope is that he can be the long-term answer there.
United have endured a lack of fortune in that area of the pitch, with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia going through injury woes.
Sergio Reguilon wasn’t the answer either, with the Spaniard spending a brief period on loan with United during the 2023-24 season.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesMarc Cucurella was one game away from Manchester United move
Reguilon joined United from Tottenham Hotspur as Erik ten Hag brought in a short-term fix amid injuries to Shaw and Malacia.
The former Real Madrid man was not the only left-back United considered signing, though, as Marc Cucurella almost joined from Chelsea.
Cucurella joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022, with the Blues paying £55million rising to £62million, as noted by The Guardian.
Cucurella failed to shine in his first season with Chelsea, and United were ready to lure him to Old Trafford in August 2023.
The Athletic claimed that Cucurella had become Ten Hag’s top target, but the deal fell through as Chelsea ruined United’s plans.
As the summer transfer deadline loomed, United were locked in talks with Chelsea and were hoping to thrash out an agreement.
No deal was done, and Chelsea decided to play Cucurella in an EFL Cup clash against AFC Wimbledon.
Not only did that cup-tie Cucurella, but it also meant that he couldn’t move on to a third team if United wanted to cancel his loan in January 2024.
That is exactly what happened with Reguilon, but Chelsea’s decision to play Cucurella in that game scuppered a move.
Without Cucurella playing in that one game, he would likely have become a United signing and given himself a chance of earning an extended stay at Old Trafford.
Cucurella stayed with Chelsea and has now turned his Stamford Bridge career around, becoming something of a cult hero in West London.
Marc Cucurella thriving at the Club World Cup
Cucurella racked up 33 Premier League starts this past season, recording five goals in the process, including one against United.
A number of wingers struggled to get the better of Cucurella as the Spaniard has turned himself from a misfit to a fan favourite.
Cucurella’s turnaround at Chelsea has been remarkable, and he is now playing a key role in their Club World Cup campaign.
Chelsea beat Benfica 4-1 overnight, booking a place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.
The game went all the way to extra time, but Cucurella played every minute to help the Blues get over the line.
Cucurella has played a key role in this tournament, and it’s clear that Enzo Maresca values him enormously, keeping him in the starting XI despite a long Premier League campaign.
Former Arsenal star Gilberto Silva is now a Technical Study Group member for FIFA, and praised Cucurella’s performances on FIFA’s official website, highlighting that his ability to invert from left-back and advance into attacking midfield areas is key to Chelsea’s play.
Cucurella is on the rise under Maresca, and the left-back spot at Chelsea appears to be his to lose, just two years since the Blues were open to letting him join United.
Who knows if Cucurella’s career would have taken a similar trajectory if he had joined United, but he is certainly making himself a key man for the Blues.