Football

Rio Ferdinand claims Paulo Dybala didn’t have ‘the right minerals’ to be a Man United player

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he was ‘happy’ when his former side pulled out of negotiations for Juventus star Paulo Dybala this summer.

Dybala – Lukaku swap falls through

One of the biggest talking points across the European media up until last week’s English transfer deadline surrounded a potential blockbuster swap deal between Juventus and Manchester United.

The transfer in question would have seen Romelu Lukaku make the move to Turin, in exchange for Paulo Dybala.

Claims even mounted that an agreement between the two clubs was essentially in place.

The one major sticking point throughout negotiations, however, was Dybala.

Argentine attacker Dybala was rumoured to have had serious reservations over the possibility of joining United, with Miguel Delaney of the Independent having suggested that the 25-year-old doubted the Red Devils’ ability to return to the very top of European football.

As such, the Red Devils, in the end, came to the decision to pull the plug on the deal.

ALLIANZ STADIUM, TORINO, , ITALY – 2019/05/19: Paulo Dybala celebrates the victory of Serie A after the match between Juventus and Atalanta (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A report from the reliable James Ducker of the Telegraph added that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only wanted to reinforce his squad with players who would be fully committed to the United cause.

In addition, Dybala’s ‘huge wage demands, exorbitant agents’ fees and image rights’ also played a key role in the Manchester giants’ decision to drop their interest.

‘Happy he didn’t come’

And one individual who feels as though United made a wise decision in opting against bringing the Bianconeri attacker to Old Trafford is Rio Ferdinand.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Star (via Football-Italia), former Red Devils’ stopper Ferdinand hit out at Dybala for having the ‘audacity’ to turn down a move to Manchester, adding that the South American’s lack of desire to don the United kit means he ‘isn’t the type of person’ to guide United back to their former glory:

‘A lot of players have declined coming to Man Utd in recent years. They’ve chosen somewhere else.’

‘But I don’t know how Dybala had the audacity to turn them down when he’s on the bench at Juventus. He needs to start playing some football.’

‘Maybe he’s thinking: ‘I want to be Champions League or I’ll sit on the bench. I’d rather do that than play at Man Utd.’

‘Well, I’m happy he didn’t come, then. Because you haven’t got the right minerals that I want in a Man Utd player!’

‘I want someone who wants to come and thinks: ‘Man Utd need to get back to being a top team. I want to be the catalyst.’

‘That’s the type of person you want to come through the door.’

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