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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Alex Telles transfer clause says it all as Man Utd flop cleared for Old Trafford return

Manchester United outcast Alex Telles is IN Sevilla's squad to face his parent club on Thursday night.

The Spanish travel to Old Trafford to take on Erik ten Hag's side in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. Telles joined Sevilla on a season-long loan last summer and is permitted to play against United "under the terms of his loan agreement".

United's willingness to allow Telles to play speaks volumes of the defender's Old Trafford future. The Brazil international, 30, still has 14 months remaining on his existing deal, but it seems unlikely he will be reintegrated into United's squad when his loan spell ends.

Telles has provided three assists in 29 games for Sevilla this season after recovering from a knee injury sustained at the World Cup in Qatar. He came off the bench during Sevilla's 2-2 draw against LaLiga rivals Celta Vigo last Friday and could feature against United.

In most instances, loan players do not feature against their parent club. Yet Ten Hag decided against putting such a clause in the Brazilian's contract last summer. Although Sevilla were competing in the Champions League at the time, there was always a good chance they would drop into the Europa League and come across the Red Devils.

Telles' inclusion in Sevilla's squad is another indication his United career is over. Ten Hag wants two players for each position, with his left-back department sorted. Luke Shaw recently signed a new deal and Tyrell Malacia only joined the club last summer.

Alex Telles is not expected to be reintegrated into Manchester United's squad (Getty Images)

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It is believed Sevilla are not interested in making Telles' loan deal permanent in the summer. The Spanish club have bigger things to worry about, as they sit just five points above the LaLiga relegation zone. That is remarkable considering they finished fourth last term.

Telles was asked about his future during an interview with Estadio Deportivo last month. As quoted by the Manchester Evening News, he said, "What I have to do is my job in the best [way] possible. I don’t think about the future because that depends on what I do now.

"Now I have to play and train. I’ve always said that I’m happy at Sevilla, I’m treated very well and now I have to play and do my best, which is the most important thing."

Telles' career in Europe started in January 2014, when he completed a move to Galatasaray. He spent the 2015/16 campaign on loan at Inter Milan before joining Porto in July 2016. His four-year spell in Portugal ended when United came calling.

Telles won eight trophies in Europe before moving to Manchester - including the Turkish Super Lig title and two Portuguese Primeira Liga titles. He was also named in the Primeira Liga's Team of the Year three times, such was his influence at Porto.

After joining United, Telles struggled to get ahead of Shaw in the pecking order. He played just 30 Premier League games during his first two seasons at Old Trafford.

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