The manager who has been linked with Manchester United could now take over from Mason Greenwood next season

United didn’t just look at the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Roberto de Zerbi – The Athletic report that both held face-to-face talks but were not deemed suitable – they also cast their nets wide.

It was an initial long list consisting of some of the most exciting and developing tactical minds in Europe.

Thiago Motta could work with Mason Greenwood at Juventus

There was, according to The Telegraph, admiration for the work Ruben Amorim did at Sporting Lisbon. Two Portuguese league titles in three seasons now. So did Michel at Girona, leading the Catalan club to the Champions League for the first time.

Likewise Thiago Motta, who also made history with Bologna, the one Rossoblu crashing through the glass ceiling in Serie A a la Girona in La Liga.

But every man and his dog knew Old Trafford was not going to be Motta’s destination, Juventus quickly installed the Brazil-born former Italy international as their number one target to replace Massimiliano Allegri and wasted no time in striking a deal.

It was a deal that was finally confirmed Wednesday afternoon. And a deal that could see him work alongside Mason Greenwood at the Allianz Stadium next season.

Juventus are reportedly hoping to complete a deal worth around £25m in the coming weeks after the Man United striker set Bianconeri as a favorite destination. Greenwood, therefore, could be one of the first big signings of the Motta era at Juventus and a potential successor for Federico Chiesa after a difficult, injury-plagued few seasons for the Euro 2020 hero.

“I am very happy to start a new chapter at the helm of a great club like Juventus,” smiles Motta at his unveiling at his new employers. I thank the owners and management, who can be sure of my ambition to keep the Juventus flag high and please the fans.”

A very modern tactician – Motta once famously introduced the idea of ​​a 2-7-2 formation with an itinerant goalkeeper – his Bologna side were ferocious, fearless and loose. Inspired by the subtle talents of one Joshua Zirkzee.

According to reports, Zirkzee’s £34m release clause makes him one of the main striker targets on Man United’s summer wishlist.

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Legendary Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is backing Motta to take over Bianconeri back to the top of Italian football with Milan, Inter and Napoli lifting it all Scudetto in recent seasons.

“Juve are probably trying to inject a new spark into an ambitious project,” the iconic stopper said at the Globe Soccer Europe Awards, via Football Italia. “And in my opinion, they had the courage to take a risk.

“However, I see this as a calculated risk. Given what he has shown so far in his career, Thiago Motta is proving that he has something special. I would say that, even before Bologna, there was a small masterpiece in Spezia.”

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