According to reports from The Express this afternoon, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal pulled the plug on a £22million deal to sign Benfica winger Nicolas Gaitan during the summer.
The Argentina international is widely regarded as one of the biggest talents outside of Europe’s five leading top flights, having helped Benfica claim back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and reach two Europa League finals since 2012, and was repeatedly linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool throughout the summer window.
Reports in August claimed the Red Devils had agreed a deal to sign the 27 year-old and according to The Express, who cite Portuguese publication A Bola, those reports may not have been as wide of the mark as once assumed.
Indeed, the British tabloid claim United had agreed a £22million fee with Benfica for the former Boca Juniors star but Louis van Gaal eventually pulled the plug, going on to sign 19 year-old winger-forward Anthony Martial instead.