Alex Telles has refused to completely close the book on his Manchester United career, despite completing a season’s loan to Sevilla.
The Brazilian full-back, signed in the final hours of a chaotic summer window two years ago, will join the LaLiga outfit for the entirety of the upcoming campaign. Brought in as viable competition to Luke Shaw, Telles has only seen his own stock plummet.
Unable to dislodge Shaw as the starting left-back, the ex-Porto man quickly became a peripheral member of the United squad. And although an injury to Shaw saw his opportunities increase last season, he never truly established himself as a Premier League starter.
Erik ten Hag promised to give the entire squad a clean slate upon his arrival at the beginning of pre-season, but quickly assessed Telles was not of the desired standard. The signing of Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord made that point even more emphatically, with the 29-year-old relegated to third choice.
In an attempt to play more regular minutes ahead of this winter’s World Cup, Sevilla provided an exit route and will now have him for the 2022/23 season. Under Julen Lopetegui, the Spaniards finished fourth in La Liga and - unlike his parent club - will participate in the Champions League this year.
Sevilla will cover Telles’ wages in full and, perhaps tellingly, have no option within the deal to make the move a permanent one in 2023. Instead, in all likelihood he will return to Old Trafford next summer where he will hope to impress Ten Hag again.
That certainly appears to be the player’s plan at this point, assuring supporters that his time with the Red Devils isn’t completely over. “To everyone at United: colleagues, staff, fans. I will be supporting and cheering you on all season. Thanks for the moments so far," he posted on social media.
And to his new fans, he added: “WE GO! I am honoured by this opportunity. I arrive with a lot of desire to add and get the best possible results for Sevilla. I can't wait to debut and be able to help my teammates.”
Telles should be able to take encouragement from his United team-mate Anthony Martial as well. The Frenchman made the same move in the January window, but after failing to secure a permanent switch, he returned to the fold in Manchester and has been given a second chance.
Martial has been a starter for much of Ten Hag’s first pre-season in charge and had looked set to lead the line in the Premier League opener against Brighton. That scenario has now been thrown into doubt however with news that the forward has picked up an injury in the build-up.
That in turn could grant an opportunity for Cristiano Ronaldo to start - despite playing just 45 minutes in the entire pre-season. The wantaway striker has done little to suggest he is ready to go from the off, but a paucity of options could leave the new manager with little choice.
