Manchester United made a last ditch effort to bring in another Serie A full back before the January transfer window slammed shut.
That position has been one area where the Red Devils have been left short-staffed this season due in no small part to long-term injuries to both Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia.
United had already raided Serie A last summer for former Torino right back Matteo Darmian who has had a mixed first season in the Premier League.
And the lack of options on either side of Louis van Gaal’s back four is what led to United almost pushing through a final day move for versatile Inter Milan full back Yuto Nagatomo on January 31.
Speaking of the upcoming announcement that Nagatomo has signed a new deal with Inter, the 29-year-old’s agent, Federico Pastorello, told Tuttomercato : “I worked for Inter on this case, as I get on well with Roberto (Mancini)… having brought him to Italy together.
“The announcement will be made shortly. He could have ended up in the Bundesliga, for more money. We’re talking a multi-year deal.
“In January, he could have gone to United, during the last day of the transfer window.”
Nagatomo had already revealed how he rebuffed Ed Woodward’s approaches but it’s only now that we have learned how close the deal came to going through.
“I like everything about Inter, I want to stay here and renew my contract,” Nagatomo told Inter’s TV channel last month.
“I turned down an offer from Manchester United, as my desire is to stay here. I have an excellent rapport with Roberto Mancini.”
