Somebody needs to tell Nemanja Vidic and Manchester United to make up their minds. Barely hours ago, the Serbian centre-back appeared destined to return to Old Trafford to help his old club relieve its current defensive woes.

Sections of the press were very confident the deal would happen. But a potential glorious homecoming for the defender, who currently plies his trade for Serie A outfit Inter Milan, was soon quashed by his agent Silvano Martina.

The player’s representative delivered some damning quotes almost as the ink was still drying on the initial reports, per Italian journalist David Amoyal:

In case you were still in any doubt, or perhaps didn’t see the word “lies” as strong enough, Martina emphasised his point:

Now all that’s left is to sit back and wait for somebody to say Mr. Martina is protesting a little too much.

The carnival started earlier when Vidic was supposedly “on the verge” of re-joining the Red Devils, according to Daily Star reporter Chisanga Malata:

Reports earlier today suggested that Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal was eager to re-sign the Serbian, who made over 300 appearances for the Red Devils, due to the team’s current defensive crisis.

But fresh reports suggest the Dutchman has already held talks with Inter and agreed a deal to bring him back.

The merits of bringing Vidic back to English shores were obvious. United have been hemorrhaging central defenders this season.

Manager Louis van Gaal has been forced into relying on raw and unproven youngsters in the form of Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair. He could certainly use a player with Vidic’s experience and ability to organise what has been a chaotic defence, even if only on a short-term basis.

Sunday World and ESPN writer Kevin Palmer believed that’s exactly what Vidic would represent:

But Vidic’s Nani-esque backflip, not something you’d ever seem him do on the pitch, regarding a potential return is a mild blow for United. It’s one more potential reinforcement for an inexperienced and threadbare defence that has been snatched from Van Gaal‘s apparent grasp.

Perhaps the cash-rich Red Devils can now devote their full attention to pursuing a big-bucks deal for Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin. B/R’s Guillem Balague has already discussed what Godin would bring to United’s flailing rearguard.

Van Gaal will know he needs to move quickly because he’s running out of options for reinforcements at the back.

French publication Le10 Sport (h/t Squawka writer Jack Watson) has revealed that AS Monaco have no intention of selling talented young full-back Layvin Kurzawa:

Manchester United and Arsenal target Layvin Kurzawa is staying put in Monaco for the time being according to the club’s vice president Vadim Vasilyev.

The 22-year-old has impressed at left-back for the Ligue 1 club that finished runners-up last season, which earned him his first call-up to France’s senior squad under Didier Deschamps. He has gone on to win two caps for Les Bleus and his performances for club and country has attracted a number of admirers.

As a stout and athletic defender versatile enough to flip-flop between full-back and central defender, Kurzawa would be a steal for Van Gaal. He would afford the Dutchman the option to adopt three- and four-man structures depending on the opponent.

Van Gaal loves that sort of tactical flexibility. However, it’s easy to believe that a continuity of system, since injuries are preventing one of personnel, might be the real tonic for United’s issues at the back.

Of course, no matter what formation he plays, Van Gaal needs numbers and quality for the United defence. That’s going to require a cessation of an alarming injury list, as well as an influx of new talent.

For the latter at least, it seems Van Gaal will have to keep looking.

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Nemanja Vidic nearly missed out on the move to Manchester United that would see him become one of European football’s most respected defenders.

In 2006, and already coveted since his time with Red Star Belgrade, the then-Spartak Moscow centre-back seemed destined for Fiorentina until a hold-up at the Serie A outfit (they didn’t have an available EU spot) allowed United to swoop in.

They spent £7 million on him, and the transaction would go down as one of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest pieces of business.

In eight-and-a-half years at the club, Vidic won five Premier League titles, three league cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup. Alongside Rio Ferdinand, he formed one half of a formidable defensive pairing, and just last week Edwin van der Sar, who backstopped United between 2005 and 2011 picked both players in his best-ever XI.

“I think we formed the backbone to a very successful Manchester United team,” the now-retired goalkeeper told Sky Sports.

Last spring, his contract having expired, Vidic joined Inter Milan on a free transfer. United had just finished a disappointing seventh in the English top flight, and as he told MUTV in July, as per the Daily Mail, he fancied the rebuilding project at San Siro.

“Inter will get bigger and bigger,” he remarked, “and I hope I can help them achieve their aims.”

Needless to say, he won’t have anticipated the Nerazzurri’s disastrous start to the season, nevermind the dismissal of manager Walter Mazzarri and the reappointment Roberto Mancini.

Since the latter’s Inter return in mid-November, Vidic, who has a history of knee and leg-muscle problems, has either struggled for fitness or been an unused substitute. He hasn’t played in Serie A since a 2-2 draw at home to Hellas Verona on November 9 and, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Eurosport, will consider his options in January.

Tuttomercatoweb has even reported a return to Manchester United could be in the cards, according to Football-Italia.

It’s a reunion the club would do well to resist, however enticing the idea might be. Which is to say, quite.

With Phil Jones still at least 10 days off from making his United return (injury data courtesy Physioroom.com) and Chris Smalling having picked up a groin injury on Monday against Southampton, the Red Devils could do with one or two additional defenders.

Paddy McNair’s nervy showing at St. Mary’s will have only added to manager Louis van Gaal‘s concerns, and while Jonny Evans is back after missing 10 games with an ankle problem, it’s more than likely United will look to strengthen the position next month.

Vidic, however, is not the cure for what ails them.

Although the 33-year-old possesses no shortage of experience, he simply can’t be counted on to come up with meaningful performances in high-pressure situations—the sort of which United will be facing week in, week out as they look to get back into the Champions League.

Besides, Vidic cut his ties to Old Trafford upon joining Inter Milan. And if he can’t displace either Andrea Ranocchia or Juan Jesus in Mancini’s system, he certainly can’t serve United’s ambitions.

Yes, Van Gaal will have to address his defensive corps in either the upcoming transfer period or the one after that; and yes, Vidic is a legend—and a recent one—at the club.

But his time at the highest level of the game is well and truly past, and United’s best course of action involves looking to the future.

They must not allow sentiment to get in the way of practicality.

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Roberto Mancini is still waiting for his first win in Serie A in his second act as coach of Inter.

It’s not like he’s been back for a while. Change hardly comes after three matches.

“A coach can’t change everything in a heartbeat,” said Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic (h/t Goal). “Unfortunately, we’re in one of those periods and we just need to look forward. We’ve got a good team but we’re making too many errors.”

Here’s four reasons why Mancini will push Inter up the standings.

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Brendan Rodgers’ ability to manage at the highest level can rightly be questioned after Liverpool‘s UEFA Champions League hopes were extinguished on Tuesday night, as they were sent crashing out by Basel.

With the Reds unlikely to effectively challenge for a top-four place this season, many are also wondering whether this will be Steven Gerrard‘s last appearance in the competition.

Liverpool went into the game with destiny in their own hands, knowing that a win would see them qualify from Group B behind Real Madrid, but they were only able to muster a 1-1 draw.

Fabian Frei put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, and things went from bad to worse for Liverpool when substitute Lazar Markovic was sent off on the hour mark.

A Gerrard wonder goal and a resurgent final 10 minutes gave the Reds hope, but in truth, the Merseysiders were poor for most of the game and would not have deserved a win.

There was a nervous excitement among fans prior to the game. Rodgers’ team selection drew raised eyebrows from The Sunday Times football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft and AFP London Sports correspondent Tom Williams: 

The scepticism proved to be well-founded, as Liverpool produced a lethargic first-half display. Rodgers’ decision to field four central midfielders ensured a sluggish pace to the Reds’ play while Rickie Lambert cut an isolated figure up front.

Anfield, famous for its atmosphere on European nights, was as subdued as the team were on the pitch.

Unsurprisingly, this didn’t escape the mockery of those on Twitter.

Gary Neville’s quip that Liverpool’s upcoming match with Manchester United could resemble a pub game gained plenty of traction on Twitter, as the Reds laboured to no avail.

After Frei‘s fine strike put Basel ahead, supporters were already beginning Liverpool’s autopsy.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though, with some seeing the humorous side of things.

Rodgers’ double substitution at half-time left many questioning the absence of Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho. 

The man who came on in their place, Markovic, immediately injected the side with more pace and vigour—for about 15 minutes.

The Serb, tracked through the midfield by Behrang Safari, floated an arm towards Safari’s face. To say the Swede went down theatrically would be an understatement:

ITV commentator Andy Townsend rushed to the defence of Markovic, citing the minimal contact and Safari’s reaction. Understandably, a number of Liverpool fans were in agreement.

More measured heads had their say as well.

According to talkSPORT, Rodgers described the red card as an “awful decision.” 

However, Markovic knew exactly where Safari was, and in flinging his arm back, he showed intent and gave the referee a decision to make regardless of the contact or reaction.

Liverpool limped on for 20 minutes with 10 men before—exactly 10 years and a day after that Olympiakos goal set the Reds on track to win their fifth European Cup—Gerrard did this:

Gerrard’s sublime free-kick finally brought his team to life, and the final minutes were by far the most exciting of the match as the Reds threw everything at Basel.

Townsend was, as he so often is, the subject of contempt in the Twittersphere, as he practically cheered the Merseysiders on.

Liverpool’s late efforts were for naught in the end, as Basel hung on to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2011/12.

Rodgers’ side will now be playing Europa League football for the remainder of the season. Not quite the result fans were hoping for.

Many were quick to point out that Liverpool still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League next year by winning the lesser competition.

In fact, sportlinglife.com report that the Reds are now favourites to win it despite Liverpool showing nothing at the moment to indicate they can overcome the likes of Napoli, Inter Milan or Sevilla. 

Their failure to escape a group containing Basel and Ludogorets shows how far the Reds have fallen since narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last year.

Of course, not all of that is Rodgers’ fault. 

The absence of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who scored 52 goals between them in the league last season, was always going to make it impossible for them to hit the same heights this year. 

What Rodgers must take responsibility for is that Liverpool’s defence, which conceded 51 times and cost them the title, has not improved whatsoever.

In fact, it’s probably even worse.

Then there are his dealings in the transfer market.

During his time at the club, Rodgers has brought in 25 players at a total of £212 million. Of those, the only players to have a real positive impact on the team so far are Sturridge and Coutinho. This is something that has to improve.

The Northern Irishman’s inability to stir a convincing performance from his players in any of their six group games raises serious concerns as to whether he’s cut out to manage at this level.

At 41, there is still plenty of time for Rodgers to become a top manager, and he deserves the chance to turn things around at Liverpool.

If he can instil his players with the confidence they enjoyed last year and do the right business in January, then his side may yet mount a challenge to either win the Europa League or achieve a top-four finish.

But based on last night’s performance, Rodgers has a massive job on his hands.

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