Victor Lindelöf’s time at Manchester United appears to be nearing its conclusion, with his eight-year stint at Old Trafford likely to end after this season.
The Swedish defender, who joined the Red Devils from Benfica in 2017, is set to become a free agent when his contract expires in June.
According to today’s edition of Record, Lindelöf is keen on a return to Benfica, a club where he previously spent five years before moving to England. He is open to the prospect of rejoining the Portuguese side on a free transfer this summer.
This season, the 30-year-old has struggled for consistent game time at United, partly due to two injury setbacks. He has played just over 400 minutes, with only two of those coming in the league since Ruben Amorim took over as manager in November.
Record also highlights that Lindelöf frequently visits Portugal and believes now is the ideal time to make a comeback to Benfica.
At the moment, Benfica’s manager, Bruno Lage, has four centre-backs at his disposal: Nicolás Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, António Silva, and Adrian Bajrami.
Otamendi’s contract expires in June, and the 37-year-old could move to River Plate on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Araújo and Silva have attracted interest from other clubs ahead of the summer window, leaving some uncertainty over their futures.
Given these factors, Lindelöf’s return to Benfica could be a valuable addition for the club.
First Man Utd star closes in on exit after Ruben Amorim confirms ruthless clearout
Victor Lindelöf appears to be on his way out of Manchester United as Ruben Amorim prepares for a major squad overhaul this summer, according to reports.
The 30-year-old Swedish centre-back has struggled for game time this season, partly due to injuries. He has yet to start a Premier League match in the current campaign but made a brief appearance off the bench in United’s FA Cup loss to Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Portuguese outlet Record reports that Lindelöf is eager to return to Benfica once his contract expires in the summer. Manchester United have no plans to extend his deal.
Lindelöf initially joined United from the Portuguese side in 2017 for €35 million and has since made 270 appearances, scoring four goals. However, his influence has waned over the past season and a half due to recurring groin, toe, and hamstring injuries.
Meanwhile, Amorim has made it clear that he intends to be “ruthless” in reshaping the squad ahead of the next season.
Since replacing Erik ten Hag as head coach in November, United have suffered 10 defeats in 24 games. The former Sporting Lisbon manager has indicated that he won’t hesitate when making decisions about player departures in what is expected to be a summer of significant changes at the club.
“Everybody understands that in football sometimes you stay, sometimes you have to move on,” Amorim said. “If I know how to explain it, I will do so because I like to be clear.
“I was a player and like to use that experience – when you are honest with someone, they can take it.
“In the beginning maybe it is hard but they will understand. I’m quite honest with my players and sometimes they know they have to move on at the end of the season.
“We can talk about that in the end – now there are still a lot of games to play. But that is clear and not a difficult situation.”
