Manchester United have been linked with a new name.
Manchester United linked with a player based in Portugal? Yes, we have certainly heard that one before.
A Sporting Lisbon player, check. That was where Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani honed their talents – and where William Carvalho, a midfielder they have recently been credited with interest in plays for.
The player now in question is winger Carlos Mane, a 19-year-old who has broken into the first team at Sporting.
The links originate in Portuguese newspaper O Jogo’s print edition, and replicated on Italian website TMW who report:
“As reported by O Jogo Manchester United have begun to follow with great interest Carlos Mane, the Sporting Lisbon winger, who has begun starting in recent months with the Portuguese club.”
Mane is still at present a very raw talent, with two Primeira Liga and one Portuguese Cup game under his belt this season.
He did feature for Portugal in the under-19 European Championship over the summer in Lithuania, playing four times and scoring once.
Born in Portugal, he is also eligible to play for Guinea-Bissau at senior international level, and is a right-winger.
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