Why Man Utd didn’t try sign Geovany Quenda as Sporting boss breaks silence on Chelsea deal | Football

Quenda will join Chelsea next yr (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United made no formal try to rival Chelsea for the signature of Sporting Lisbson sensation Geovany Quenda, who has agreed a deal to affix Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Chelsea have agreed a £41million deal to sign the 17-year-old star who will remain at Sporting on loan next season before making his move to Stamford Bridge in the summertime of 2026.

He’s the newest wonderkid to be snapped up by Chelsea who’ve set about hoovering up among the game’s top young talent with South American stars Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez set to affix this summer.

Quenda made his senior debut for Sporting under Ruben Amorim, thriving a right wing-back role in his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

After Amorim made the move to Manchester last November, it was been widely reported the United boss would seek to bring Quenda with him to Old Trafford through the summer transfer window.

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Quenda nevertheless is Chelsea-bound, with it now emerging United never submitted a suggestion for the Portuguese star.

Based on the Manchester Evening News, United met with agent Jorge Mendes last November, along with his Gestifute agency negotiating on behalf of Quenda and his agent.

Quenda made his debut at 16 under Amorim (Picture: Getty Images)

Talks didn’t ‘extend beyond informal discussions’, in keeping with the report with United’s interest in Patrick Dorgu also playing an element.

Dorgu, a natural left-footer, was signed from Lecce for £25m in January, slotting into the left wing-back role.

While Quenda has predominantly played on the fitting for Sporting, he can be a natural left-footed player.

Sporting Lisbon manager Rui Borges meanwhile believes Quenda will probably be making a ‘natural’ next step when he joins Chelsea.

Everton FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League
United signed Dorgu in January (Picture: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

‘His growth has been rapid at Sporting, it’s natural that folks speak about him to big clubs,’ Borges said.

‘He’s a child who can have to learn to live with that. The deal that’s being talked about today, I can’t go into that until the club talks about it, because I don’t know.’

Asked about Quenda’s mind-set since being approached by Chelsea, he added: “I didn’t mention it specifically.

‘It’s something he has to learn to live with, he’s been growing quickly, sometimes we forget that he’s only 17.

‘It’s natural that they’ll speak about him, they’ll link him to many clubs, that will probably be a part of his growth. It is going to affect him mentally, but he has to learn to live with it.’