Report: Manchester United accelerate pursuit of Boca Juniors teenage prodigy
According to Argentinean reporter Julio Pavoni via Boca Juniors—La12Tuittera, Manchester United are following Boca Juniors wonderkid Aaron Anselmino.
Aaron Anselmino, 18, has emerged as one of the best young defensive talents in the Argentinean top flight, having made his debut for Boca Juniors last year. The centre-back joined the youth academy at Boca Juniors when he was 12 and has worked his way up through the ranks, having become a mainstay of the senior side since the turn of the year.
The Red Devils have scouted the young defender in recent weeks and months and are evaluating making an offer. They inquired about him during the January transfer window, to which Boca Juniors reacted by tying their rising talent to a new deal until the summer of 2028. The new contract signed by Anselmino increased his release clause to £15 million, Pavoni states.
Anselmino is on course to his breakout campaign with Boca, and his performances have aroused the interest of some top European teams including AC Milan. The report adds Manchester United want to sign the 18-year-old teenager this summer and loan him to another club.
The 20-time English champions have doubts about the defensive department heading into the summer. Raphael Varane’s contract expires in June and it remains to be seen whether or not the club hands him a new contract, while the futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof at Old Trafford remain uncertain.
Jonny Evans was signed as a stop-gap squad player last summer, and while he has performed admirably well this season, the veteran defender could be moved on by the new minority owners. In addition, how Lisandro Martinez performs after suffering two separate injury issues this campaign should firmly be in the minds of Erik ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team while planning on signing a new central defender.
Red Devil Armada’s verdict
Aaron Anselmino is highly rated in South America, and the defender could represent a fantastic long-term investment for our club. We are in desperate need of young defensive talents who would replace the ageing stars such as Varane, Maguire and Evans.
Anselmino fits the profile of what Man United are understood to be looking at under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new regime—young, hungry and dynamic talents with huge potential. All in all, we must sign the Argentinean defender and send him to a European club that believes in grooming young talents. Paying £15 million for an 18-year-old defender from South America comes with a risk element but these are the exact kind of signings that Ratcliffe and co must make if we are to become a competitive club again.