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Man Utd news: Red Devils had private jet CANCELLED after defender deal broke down
MANCHESTER UNITED manager Jose Mourinho thought he was on the verge of signing Diego Godin this summer and the club even booked a private jet to get the deadline day deal done.
But instead of signing the centre-back, United were used as a distraction to force Atletico Madrid into handing Godin a new contact.
That is the stunning revelation unearthed by the Mirror, who claim Manchester United were never going to get Godin.
United executive-vice chairman Ed Woodward spent much of the summer trying in vain to sign centre-backs for manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho had requested at least one new central defensive signing ahead of the new season, with Woodward handed a list of targets.
Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld and Yerry Mina were on that list, along with Godin.
And United thought they had hit a bargain with the 32-year-old after being told his release clause was set at just £18m.
United dutifully made a bid and booked a private plane to fly the Uruguayan to Manchester.
But the Mirror claim United’s bid was all part of a ploy by Godin’s agent to force Atletico’s hand.
According to the report, United had a plane booked on transfer deadline day to help rush through the deal.
Godin would have signed a contract at Old Trafford and joined Diogo Dalot and Fred as first-team recruits this summer, had the player ever had the intention of joining Mourinho.
Godin had been on holiday in Sardinia but it appears he had no interest in flying to England.
Instead, the player let Manchester United know that Atletico had reacted to the transfer proposal by offering him the contract he wanted all along.
Godin has since played four times for Atletico this season, maintaining his role as an integral part of manager Diego Simeone’s side.
He joined the Madrid club back in August 2010 from Villarreal in a £6.6m deal.
Godin has been linked with United in the past, most notably in 2014 when then-manager Louis van Gaal supposedly had eyes for the defender.
Manchester City were also supposedly in for the player back in 2015 but Godin stayed loyal to Atletico.
Asked about his future last month, Godin confirmed he had had offers to join other clubs.
“I have not renewed," Godin said.
“I have had offers, although I have decided to stay for personal reasons and I am only thinking about the final.
"I saw that news came out but I do not know where it came from."