REVEALED: How ex-Man Utd star almost made dramatic return

Tom Hancock

• 20 Jun 2023 20:23 BST
• 3 min read

Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind has opened up about how tempted he was to re-join the club last season.

The Dutchman left Man Utd back in 2018 to return to Ajax – where he played under current United manager Erik ten Hag.

But he could he have re-united with his compatriot for a second spell at Old Trafford only a matter of months ago? Well, he was keen to do so after leaving Ajax by mutual consent in December.

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In an interview on the UTD Podcast, Blind admitted as much – although he never quite got in touch with Ten Hag. The 33-year-old explained:

“No [I didn’t call him]. To be honest, he has the same agent as me, so the connection is not that far away.

“But yeah, he did not really need me at [that] moment. He [had] already [brought] some players in. [Lisandro] Martinez as well, in the same position, and I am not blaming him for that.

“I am very thankful for the time [I had] with him. I learned a lot from him.”

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On the move again

Blind ultimately joined Bayern Munich in January – and, while he made only five appearances for the German

giants during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, he still earned himself a Bundesliga winner’s medal.

Having only signed a short-term deal with Bayern and with no extension seemingly forthcoming, Blind is set to become a free agent this summer.

Could he finally make that return to Man Utd, then? You’d have to say it looks unlikely – but he wouldn’t be the first player to head to Old Trafford for a reunion with Ten Hag…