Man City fight Man Utd for PINK-haired superstar

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 4 Mar 2025 10:01 GMT
4 min read

Manchester City are rivalling Manchester United for Serie A superstar Theo Hernandez, who is expected to leave AC Milan at the end of the season.

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According to EsDiario, City have joined the chase for the AC Milan left back, who has been considered one of the best players in the world in his position over the last few years.

The report states that City plan to sign a left back in the summer, having been forced to play players out of position there this season.

Man Utd are also long-term admirers of Theo, and we could be set for a summer fight for the player between the two Manchester rivals.

Theo is one of Milan and Serie A's biggest names but he is very likely to leave the Rossoneri at the end of the season.

Milan already wanted to sell Theo in January and accepted a shock €47 million bid from Como but the France star rejected the move.

The Frenchman has had a difficult season with the Rossoneri, struggling on the pitch and also enduring a number of off-field issues.

He did not have the best relationship with former manager Paulo Fonseca, while he has also been booed and insulted by fans.

Amidst all this, Theo has a contract that expires in 2026 and contract renewal talks have been labouring.

Things reached a new low a fortnight ago when Theo was widely blamed for Milan's exit from the Champions League.

Leading 1-0 in the second leg at home against Feyenoord and dominating, Theo got himself sent off with a second yellow card for simulation. Feyenoord went on to equalise and go through 2-1 on aggregate.

After the game, the Italian media were in agreement that Milan have decided to transfer list Theo and sell him at the end of the season.

Theo has been criticised for a lack of professionalism and motivation, with even his choice to dye his hair pink seen by some as a lack of seriousness.

🚨 Sergio Conceicão, who is very strict person and tends to direct his team in a manic way, did not like Theo Hernandez’s hair colour change to electric pink.

Regarding his renewal, not much have changed so far. The parties are still not close, it’s quite the opposite. Milan… pic.twitter.com/ASsgH31zSh
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) February 15, 2025

Theo Hernandez at AC Milan

Theo was signed by AC Milan in the summer of 2019 from Real Madrid for a sum of €20m, with the legendary Paolo Maldini - then a director at Milan - the man who masterminded the deal.

At Milan he has developed into one of the best left backs in Europe, making well over 200 appearances and scoring 33 goals.

He played a key role in Milan winning the Scudetto in 2022 and has become famous for his trademark slaloming runs down the left flank.

He has been named in the Serie A Team of the Season on four occasions.

Theo has also won 36 caps for France, scoring two goals. One of these was in the semi final of the 2022 World Cup against Morocco.