Agent says Manchester United wanted £17m South American before signing Manuel Ugarte

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Finally some clarity about one of the more intriguing transfer rumours to surround Manchester United during the summer of 2024.

With the Red Devils on the lookout for a new midfielder, Manuel Ugarte quickly emerged as the leading target. But, with Manchester United lining up a host of alternatives in case they could not agree a deal with Paris Saint-Germain, a couple of more unexpected names appeared on the radar.

Sander Berge, for instance. A player relegated with Sheffield United and who would eventually end up at Fulham.

Richard Rios, meanwhile, was a name even more out of left-field. Pretty much a complete unknown in England before those links arrived, Goal reported that Manchester United were planning a £17 million bid for the Palmeiras ace after an impressive Copa America campaign in the yellow of Colombia.

The rumours would never really make it outside of South America. They pretty much disappeared as quickly as they began, perhaps because United discovered that French champions PSG were open to compromising on Ugarte after all.

But, four months on, Man United’s interest in Richard Rios appears to have finally been confirmed by a source close to the situation.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesManchester United’s interest in Colombia star Richard Rios confirmed

Sabatino Durante, a FIFA agent, claims to have an excellent relationship with Fiorentina’s technical director Roberto Goretti.

He claims that La Viola had attempted to sign Rios during the summer just gone as well.

That was, however, until Man United threw their own hat into the frame. The presence of a bonafide European powerhouse showing an interest was all the encouragement Palmeiras needed to raise Rios’ price-tag beyond the limits Fiorentina were capable of paying.

“Roberto Goretti and I always talk. It is clear that we talk, we exchange opinions,” Durante explains to Radio Firenze Viola. “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.”

A 24-year-old who started his career at Flamengo, Richard Rios signed a new contract at Brazilian giants Palmeiras earlier this month.

The Verde have little plans to cash in before the expanded Club World cup next year, by which time Man United may be in the market for a midfielder once again with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro likely to be on the way in 2025.

Brazilian expert explained what Richard Rios would bring to United

United In Focus spoke to Brazilian football expert Rogerio Amaral, who has been covering the news for Vamo Futebol, about Richard Rios.

And Amaral paints the picture of a midfielder who, due to his background in Futsal, possesses skilful footwork in tight spaces and who can influence proceedings in every area of the pitch.

“Richard Rios is a player who acts as a second midfielder, as a number eight normally does,” Amaral explains. “He is a comfortable dribbler, but he usually only uses it when the opponent puts pressure on him.

“He plays in a slightly more advanced position than Casemiro. But he also has a lot of strength in the defensive third. Aside from dribbling, his strengths are speed in decision-making, good passing, and intensity without the ball.

“Another strong point of his is his consistency, he rarely plays bad games.”