Romano reveals Man Utd’s €40m transfer blunder

24 Sept 2026 06:59 BST | 3 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Fabrizio Romano has revealed a major Manchester United fumble in the transfer market, which highlights the long-standing failings of the Old Trafford club when completing signings.

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The Red Devils failed to sign a left-back this summer, but an old tweet from the transfer insider has resurfaced which highlights just how long this has been a persisting issue for.

Romano’s update from September 2021 shows that Man Utd had the opportunity to sign Nuno Mendes from Sporting CP in a €40 million deal but preferred to sit it out and watch him move to PSG instead.

Current ETV

Nuno Mendes

D (L)

PSG

Nuno Mendes

D (L)

PSG

ETV Range

€48.6M - €59.4M

Posting on 9 September 2021, he said: “Nuno Mendes starts his new chapter as PSG player today. €40m buy option is not mandatory.

“Manchester United were only interested in Nuno for the future - happy with Luke Shaw and Alex Telles this summer.”

Nuno Mendes has become the world’s best - and Man Utd still need a left-back

Man Utd have been on the wrong side of history with this decision. At PSG, Nuno Mendes has developed into arguably the best left-back in the world, playing over 180 times for the Parc des Princes side while winning, among other things, two Champions League titles. Aged only 24, the Portugal star is not even in his peak years yet.

His growth has been highlighted by the fact that he is now considered to be the fourth most valuable full-back in the world, trailing only team-mate Achraf Hakimi, Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber. This also makes him the most valuable left-back with an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €54m, though this figure has climbed as high as €76.7m in the past.

Meanwhile, four years on, United are still searching for a long-term heir to Shaw at left-back.

The world's most valuable full-backs

Name	Club	Side	ETV
Achraf Hakimi	PSG	Right	€59.2m
Trent Alexander-Arnold	Real Madrid	Right	€58.4m
Jurrien Timber	Arsenal	Right	€57.6m
Nuno Mendes	PSG	Left	€54m
Milos Kerkez	Liverpool	Left	€49.7m

Telles lasted less than two years before being loaned out and would eventually be sold to Al-Nassr in a deal worth €4.6m.

Shaw remains the first choice at Man Utd, having spent a spell playing at centre-back. The 31-year-old was an ever present in the Premier League last season, but it has been a long time since the Englishman was considered in contention as one of the best in his position.

United approach the January transfer window seeking a solution for this issue, having seen top target Lewis Hall sign a new deal with Newcastle.

The pressure is therefore on the Red Devils to make their next signing the right one having seen strong options slip through their fingers more than once in the past.