Manchester United may have another reason to keep an eye on Willy Kambwala’s situation at Villarreal.
The former Manchester United defender is attracting interest from Como, who are now moving quickly in their attempt to sign him. Como see Kambwala as a priority and are hoping to beat Osasuna to the 21-year-old.
That is a significant change from the situation just a day earlier, when Kambwala’s move to Osasuna appeared close. A loan deal had reportedly been agreed, but Como’s interest in signing him permanently has put that move into doubt.
Manchester United could benefit from whichever way the situation develops.
Kambwala couldn’t shine at Manchester United
Willy Kambwala left Old Trafford for Villarreal in July 2024 after making 10 senior appearances for United that season. The defender had joined the club from Sochaux as a teenager and gradually worked his way into the first-team picture before deciding that a move away was the best option for his development.
United received an initial €5.5 million (£4.63m) from the deal, with the total potentially rising to €11.5m (£9.68m) through add-ons.
More importantly, Manchester United did not completely cut ties with Kambwala. The club included a buy-back option in the agreement and also secured a sizeable percentage of any future sale.
The buy-back is not expected to be used, but that sell-on clause could now become useful.
Villarreal still have Kambwala under contract until June 2029, so they are in no immediate rush to sell. However, if Como are prepared to put together an attractive permanent offer, the Spanish club could decide that the time is right to move the defender on.
Why Como move for Kambwala suits Manchester United
For United, a permanent transfer would be preferable to simply seeing Kambwala move elsewhere on loan. A sale would give Villarreal an opportunity to cash in while potentially sending some money back into United’s hands through their sell-on agreement.
Kambwala’s career has not quite developed as quickly as some might have expected when he first broke through at United. He was part of the FA Cup-winning squad in 2024, but opportunities remained limited under Erik ten Hag and the club eventually decided to let him continue his development elsewhere.
A move to Como could give him another fresh start. European football could also make the Italian club an attractive destination for a player who is still trying to establish himself at senior level.
United have already made their decision on Kambwala by choosing not to activate their buy-back option. If Como get their man, United could at least come out of the deal with a financial reward.
