Manchester United’s Sam Mather will be reintegrated into the Under-21 squad this week after failing to complete his desired summer transfer.
The 21-year-old had been linked with a handful of clubs throughout the summer, having entered the transfer window with full intentions of leaving United permanently.
Sam Mather: What went on this summer?
He received approaches from sides in Germany, Sweden and Turkey, as per Manchester Evening News, but nothing materialised. Then, after the main European deadline passed, Mather was in talks with Kayseripor in a move that would’ve seen him follow on-loan Red Andre Onana to the Turkish Super Lig.
That was until the prospective switch collapsed due to United feeling there wasn’t ‘enough time’ to get everything over the line.
Mather was consequently left with few options regarding where he could ply his trade at a senior level, and began negotiating with Abu Dhabi-based Al Wahda.
Mather misses out on UAE transfer – ‘final decision’ made
For the youngster, the prospect of playing in the AFC Champions League was an enticing one, despite prioritising a European venture only a few months ago.
According to Steven Railston’s report this morning, United had requested in discussions with Al Wahda that a buy-back clause be included in their agreement. This is said to be ‘common practice’ when a player from the academy leaves, although the UAE outfit rebuffed the plea.
Mather is now set for another four months of U21S football before his situation can be ‘revisited’ in the winter. He has been drafted into first-team training with Ruben Amorim’s squad on numerous occasions, but is still awaiting his senior debut for the club.
The fact that United are only playing one game a week this season will also make his quest to break into the setup increasingly trickier.
