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Manchester United Reportedly 'Furious' with Diego Godin over Failed Transfer
September 2, 2018
Manchester United are reportedly enraged with Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, who refused a last-gasp transfer to Old Trafford this summer before signing a new contract at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Sunday Mirror's Simon Mullock wrote the Red Devils remain "furious" with Godin, who is said to have used the Premier League giants to secure a new deal in Madrid. United thought they had signed the Uruguay international after triggering his £18 million buyout clause.
According to Mullock, United received encouragement that the 32-year-old wanted to sign and organised a private jet to take him from Sardinia to England on Aug. 8, but the flight was cancelled when Atleti offered their star improved terms.
United were linked with a long line of star centre-backs over the summer months but failed to add a new recruit, with Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld and Leicester City's Harry Maguire also mentioned as targets.
Mullock reported Godin's new deal extended his previous terms by two years and boosted his wages to £130,000 per week, though La Liga writer Simon Harrison said the defender's season has got off to a rocky start on the pitch:
Speculation of interest in Godin arose after United struggled to advance interest in other targets who would have represented longer-term investments than the Atleti stalwart, who turns 33 in February.
The Red Devils have lost their past two matches, to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, and Mourinho's position at the club looks somewhat uncertain.
Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng was also linked with United, but the Daily Mail's Simon Jones reported he spoke to Mourinho to explain his reasons for turning down the move to Old Trafford.
One could hardly blame Godin, an eight-year veteran of Los Rojiblancos, for wanting to remain in the Spanish capital. Marca's Chris Winterburn gave further context behind the defender's decision:
It seems United weren't as understanding regarding his decision, but the Red Devils wouldn't be disgruntled had they completed their business earlier in the transfer window.
Godin's 2018-19 campaign isn't off to the smoothest of starts, but victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup suggests his decision was correct.
United, meanwhile, continue to make do with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo as their central-defensive options.