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Manchester United explored a possible move for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios in the summer transfer window, according to football agent Sabatino Durante.
Rios joined Palmeiras from Guarani in March 2023 and has quickly established himself as a key player for the Brazilian outfit, making 94 appearances in all competitions.
The highly rated 24-year-old, renowned for his passing ability and tenacity without the ball, has also been capped 17 times by the Colombia national team and played a central role at this year’s Copa America.
Rios’ performances have not gone unnoticed in Europe, with AC Milan, Fiorentina and Fulham all credited with a strong interest throughout the summer.
According to FIFA agent Durante, who has facilitated high-profile moves for the likes of Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Philippe Coutinho, Manchester United are also keen admirers of the Colombian.
However, Rios has an eye-watering £84million release clause in his contract at Palmeiras and Durante believes potential suitors were priced out of a potential deal.
‘[Fiorentina technical director] Roberto Goretti and I always talk. It is clear that we talk, we exchange opinions,’ Durante told Radio Firenze Viola in Italy.
‘Roberto was the first to get to Richard Rios, the Palmeiras midfielder. The problem is that there was the Copa America, and the price went up.
‘After that, other clubs like Manchester United arrived. In Brazil, the shops are expensive. Just look at Andre, from Fluminense, who went to Wolverhampton.
‘Goretti would have taken him but, in Brazil, you have to spend a lot of money.’
United decided against pursuing a deal for Rios and instead focused their attentions on Manuel Ugarte, who completed a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of £42m.
Ugarte has been used sparingly since arriving in the north west, though, and was left as an unused substitute by Erik ten Hag in the Red Devils’ last two matches against Porto and Aston Villa.
There are also doubts surrounding Ugarte’s involvement in United’s upcoming clash with Brentford after the midfielder was forced off with an injury in Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier with Ecuador on Tuesday.
In addition to Ugarte, United signed Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined total in excess of £170m across a busy summer transfer window.
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