France star leaves Man Utd door open after summer transfer failure

Robin Bairner

• 15 Sept 2023 08:43 BST
• 3 min read

Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo has opened up on why a transfer to Manchester United was not completed but has left the door open to a potential move to Old Trafford in the future.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Todibo topped a shortlist of three central defenders made by Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag towards the end of the summer transfer window as the Red Devils sought a replacement for Harry Maguire.

In the end, the only business that United conducted in that area was to sign Jonny Evans on a one-year contract, with Maguire staying at the club and no one else, including Todibo, arriving.

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In the meantime, Todibo has won his first cap for France and admits that he has taken the blow in his stride as he never felt Man Utd were a real option this summer.

“That was agreed well before,” he told L’Equipe, referring to Man Utd’s interest. “I extended my contract at the end of 2022. At the time, I knew that I would finish the season and play at least one more after it.

“Nice was not a selling club this summer, it was very clear.”

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Why Todibo didn’t force summer move

Todibo, who previous spent time at Barcelona, has admitted to being impetuous when he was young but adopts a more mature approach to his career now.

“I didn’t want to make a mistake. I stayed very calm,” he said. “Thinking is much more important than when I started.

“I’m waiting for complete projects to be presented to me. What’s expected of me? What am I being signing? You shouldn’t go to a club without knowing those things.

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“I know what I have in Nice. Why go into the unknown? So everything must be clear.

“My first transfers were made when I was 18 years old. My thought process was not as clear.”

Todibo has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s leading centre-backs and is set to line up against PSG on Friday.