Manchester United Reached Agreement To Sign £25m World Cup Finalist

Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan was on the cusp of a switch to Manchester United in the summer before the 20-time Premier League champions pulled the plug on the deal, the Daily Star claim, citing reports from Portugal.

It was claimed that Gaitan would sign for the Red Devils after the departure of Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, but United boss Louis van Gaal had other plans.

The Dutch tactician brought in attackers Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial instead, meaning the move for Gaitan failed to materialise.

Depay arrived from PSV Eindhoven earlier on in the summer for £25m, while Martial was a £36m deadline day signing – with the deal making the France international the most expensive teenager in world football.

Meanwhile, as per the Star, Liverpool were also chasing Gaitan over the summer but the deal fell through.

Gaitan, 26, joined Benfica from boyhood club Boca Juniors and the Argentinian midfielder has become a mainstay in the Portuguese giants’ side with series of impressive displays.

United face Russian outfit CSKA Moscow in one of the Champions League game tonight, and van Gaal’s side will be looking to continue with the brilliant performance, which saw them whitewash Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, by thumping the ‘Koni’ at the Arena Khimki later tonight.