“It’s over between Manchester United and him” – Fabrizio says 25-yr-old will leave
Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe will be released this summer REUTERS/Phil Noble.
Axel Tuanzebe is set to leave Manchester United in the summer following the expiration of his contract at Old Trafford.
The academy graduate featured 37 times for the senior side, but a string of injuries and the presence of better centre-backs at Carrington has led to the club deciding against offering Tuanzebe a new contract.
The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive loan spell in the Championship with Aston Villa during the 2018/19 season. But he never managed to replicate the same form at his parent club. Another loan stint followed in 2022, this time in Italy with Napoli. He looked out of place in Serie A, managing just one appearance – a 10-minute cameo in their 1-0 win over Sampdoria. This season was the worst of his career, as he could only feature four times for Stoke City in the Championship.
Tuanzebe hasn’t played for Manchester United under Ten Hag
He wasn’t in Erik ten Hag plans at the start of the season, as the former Ajax man brought in Lisandro Martinez from his former club and allowed Tuanzebe to go on another loan. Now, it has been decided it’s best to part ways permanently.
According to Fabrizio Romano, “it’s over between” United and the 25-year-old, who will depart the club as a free agent in search of a new chapter.
United, meanwhile, are looking for a new centre-back, and have been heavily linked with a defender from one of Tuanzebe’s former clubs. Napoli star Kim Min-jae has attracted interest from the Red Devils after a solid title-winning campaign.
Napoli aren’t too keen on letting their leader at the back leave, but a release clause between £43m and £52m in his contract makes the Serie A champions more or less powerless with regard to Kim Min-jae’s future.