England star Kieran Trippier makes admission about collapsed transfer to Manchester United

Kieran Trippier came 'very close' to signing for Manchester United from Atletico Madrid.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to sign a new right-back in the summer of 2021 to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Trippier was identified as his prime target.

Atletico Madrid didn't want to lose Trippier, who wanted a return to England for family reasons, and insisted he'd only be sold if the £33million release clause in his contract was triggered.

United signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in that summer transfer window and Trippier's move didn't materialise. Instead, he stayed at Atletico for another six months and signed for Newcastle in January 2022 for a reduced fee of £12m.

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Trippier has been regarded as an excellent signing for Newcastle and has continued to play a key role for England. His versatility at full-back has made him an asset for Gareth Southgate and he will likely start at left-back in the opening group game due to Luke Shaw's lack of fitness.

Speaking ahead of Euro 2024, Trippier sat down for an interview with The Overlap and his failed transfer to United when Solskjaer was in charge was on the agenda.

“When I was in Madrid, the season before I left it was a tough year for me for numerous reasons. I just wanted to come back to England, my family was finding it difficult at the time," said Trippier.

"I could have stayed at Atletico Madrid, I could have signed a new three-year contract. (Diego) Simeone in the car park on the day I was leaving didn’t want me to go.

"But it was the right thing at the right time for my family. As players you have to be realistic about where you can go. I knew I wasn’t going to sign for Manchester City or Liverpool.

"I knew I was restricted to certain clubs. United did come [in for me] straight after the Euros and that was very close. I grew up with my family being Reds, but it didn’t happen.

"Everything happens for a reason. It [the deal] just fell away. Ole was the manager at the time and everything seemed perfect, I was chuffed, it was Manchester United, the biggest club in the world.

"It didn’t happen and I was back at Madrid. Six months later I was at Newcastle. Everyone raised their eyebrows, obviously people were saying he is going for the money, and he is going for this and that.

"I have made it clear many times that I took less money going to Newcastle than I did [staying] at Madrid. I didn’t have a relegation clause, even at the position we were in, I trusted the manager and that is a key factor to why I came.”

Since Trippier's failed move to Old Trafford, Diogo Dalot has emerged as the club's first-choice right-back and was named Players' Player of the Season in 2023/24.

Wan-Bissaka has entered the final year of his contract and could be sold this summer.

Trippier was speaking on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.