Revealed: England star ALMOST joined Man Utd after Euro 2020

Cameron Smith

• 16 Jun 2024 15:30 BST
• 3 min read

Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier has admitted he was close to joining Manchester United following his performances at the delayed 2020 European Championship.

Trippier, 33, made five appearances for England at the tournament and he provided the assist for Luke Shaw’s opener in the final.

However, he remained at Atletico Madrid, having moved to Spain in 2019, and subsequently joined Newcastle just six months later after the Magpies’ €14 million offer was accepted.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

Trippier appeared on The Overlap, in an episode aired ahead of England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, and revealed that a move to Old Trafford was on the cards three years ago.

“United did come [in for me] straight after the Euros and that was very close. I grew up with my family being Reds, but it didn’t happen,” the England star said.

“Everything happens for a reason. It [the deal] just fell away. Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] was the manager at the time and everything seemed perfect, I was chuffed, it was Manchester United, the biggest club in the world.

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“It didn’t happen, and I was back in Madrid. Six months later, I was at Newcastle.”

Despite failing to land Trippier after Euro 2020, Man Utd did complete the signing of his then-England team-mate Jadon Sancho. He moved to Old Trafford for €85m from Borussia Dortmund, but is expected to depart on a permanent deal this summer.

Furthermore, although Man Utd wanted Trippier in 2021, they are yet to sign a new right-back since then, with Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka still at the club.

Man Utd’s summer transfer news

Man Utd have been linked with a host of players so far this summer and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite remains their priority defensive target.

The Red Devils are also interested in the likes of Michael Olise, Joao Neves and Amadou Onana as they look to back Erik ten Hag in the transfer market.