Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo has revealed he was approached by Manchester United during the January transfer window, but he turned down the opportunity to join the Red Devils on loan.
The Japan international made the revelation in an interview with Inter TV (h/t Mail Online’s Jonny Singer): “I like everything about Inter, I want to stay here and renew my contract. I turned down an offer from Manchester United, as my desire is to stay here. I have an excellent rapport with Roberto Mancini.”
Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News confirmed United’s offer was a loan deal, similar to the deal the club tried to strike for Olympiakos defender Omar Elabdellaoui.
Nagatomo has plied his trade in Italy since 2010 and moved to Inter from Cesena in 2011. The 29-year-old has been a valued member of the Nerazzurri ever since, although he has been limited to just nine Serie A starts this season, per WhoScored.com.
A classic left-back who can play further up the pitch if needed, Nagatomo has flown under the radar in the past few years as Inter have rarely made much of an impact outside of Serie A. The Japanese star is a fine player, however, as you can see in the video below:
He does most of his damage with his quickness and displays a phenomenal work rate on the pitch. Nagatomo can run for days and will drive opponents mad with his tendency to keep moving and harass them at every turn.
He’s not a fantastic technician or a particularly good crosser, but Nagatomo is the type of player fans can’t help but love because he always gives it his everything. Under normal circumstances, a club like United wouldn’t pay too much attention to the Japanese defender, but in light of the Red Devils’ struggles with injuries, the approach makes a lot more sense.
Manager Louis van Gaal spent the better part of the season’s first half looking for answers at the left-back position, as designated starter Luke Shaw suffered an injury during the UEFA Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutchman tried a variety of options, including moving Daley Blind out wide, shifting Matteo Darmian to the left and using centre-back Marcos Rojo in the position. None of the variations were ideal, and it wasn’t until the emergence of young star Cameron Borthwick-Jackson when some consistency was found.
The 19-year-old has seen his playing time gradually increase during the last month, and given his strong form, the club no longer has a dire need for another full-back. But as recently as four weeks ago, the Red Devils could have used an experienced veteran to bring some stability to the position, and Nagatomo would surely have fit the bill.
A loan deal would have been ideal, as Shaw is expected to return at some point in the future, and while some fans may frown upon hearing their club tried to bring in a little-known Japanese player, the reported approach makes a lot of sense.
Inter likely wouldn’t have been too keen on handing the Red Devils one of their most valued players unless the loan fee was significant. And as Nagatomo has spent the last half-decade playing in the Italian fashion capital, it’s easy to see why he preferred an extended stay with his current club.
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