Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement with Benfica for right-back Nélson Semedo to join the Reds in the summer, according to Portuguese outlet Noticias ao Minuto.
According to the outlet, United will pay £35 million to sign the 23-year-old Portuguese, who has been touted as one of the most promising full-backs in Europe.
The Seixal academy product has been linked with a move away from Benfica for some time now, with United’s Premier League rivals Chelsea also being linked with a move for Semedo in the January transfer window.
However, Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira was loathe to sell the full-back this winter, as Semedo, whose contract runs until June 2021 and contains a release clause of €80 million, has been one of the key components in manager Rui Vitória’s side as the Eagles challenge for a fourth consecutive Portuguese league title.
Also, having sold winger Gonçalo Guedes to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, Vieira did not feel the need to sell another player and compromise a title challenge.
A wing-back in the mould of Antonio Valencia, Semedo has featured 31 times for Benfica this season, scoring two goals and providing seven assists.
He earned his one and only cap for Portugal in a European Championship qualifier against Serbia in October 2015, but is expected to earn further honours for the Seleção in the near future.
Comments.
Loading comments…