Diego Godin has turned down the chance to join Manchester United despite the club offering a lucrative two-year contract for the 32-year-old
United had offered to pay his release clause and £150,000 a week but Godin is intrinsic to Diego Simeone’s plans and settled in Madrid.
Though the Uruguay international was flattered by United’s interest he has opted to stay at Atletico Madrid.
Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and head of corporate development Matt Judge are both at the club’s Carrington training complex this morning as they try to deliver a late signing for Jose Mourinho.
A leader and tough uncompromising defender, Godin is a player Mourinho has coveted for some time and is a key component to Atletico where he has a strong relationship with coach Diego Simeone and that relationship has led to a deadline-day rejection.
In his Thursday press conference ahead of Friday’s opener against Leicester, Mourinho admitted he is not hopeful of securing a new face before the 5pm deadline.
The Portuguese is desperately seeking reinforcements for his defence on the eve of the campaign with summer-long interest in Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire failing to result in moves ahead of deadline day.
Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng was also mooted with an Old Trafford switch but Mourinho has been left frustrated at a summer that has only seen one high-profile addition in £52m Brazilian midfielder Fred.
Defensively the club currently have Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, who has been linked with a switch to Everton, as the centre-back options.