Man Utd visit Neymar 2.0 who ‘nearly quit football’ as Jim Ratcliffe plans first signing

Manchester United’s planning for the first summer transfer window of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime is well underway despite uncertainty over Erik ten Hag’s future. Ratcliffe has suggested that United will switch their recruitment focus under the INEOS banner as he vies to restore a winning culture at Old Trafford.

The 71-year-old co-owner has insisted that, under his watch, the club will look to buy “the next Kylian Mbappe” rather than eyeing blockbuster signings galore.

United’s big-money strategy of the past decade has failed. Angel di Maria, Paul Pogba and Antony are among the pillars of unsuccessful football operations since Sir Alex Ferguson relinquished control.

Ratcliffe is working to change that by already forming a new-look recruitment team to helm sporting decisions in the next chapter at Old Trafford.

Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox are on their way as chief executive, sporting director and technical director, respectively.

All three have the credentials that offer confidence that they will utilise United’s extensive scouting network more effectively than the club’s hierarchy since 2013.

According to the Mail, Gremio winger Gustavo Nunes is among the talent identified as part of a fresh focus on South America, with the Red Devils preparing for their present and future.

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A United scout is claimed to have visited Porto Alegre last week to take a closer look at ‘Gustavinho’ – as Gremio fans nickname him.

The 18-year-old, who primarily operates on the left, only made his senior debut in February but has already reportedly caught the attention of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Many view Nunes as the future of Brazilian football alongside Real Madrid-bound Endrick, and he could soon land in the Premier League.

The report states that Neymar is one of Nunes’ biggest idols, and aspects of his game mirror the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar.

Nunes possesses speed and tricky dribbling, carved from his days playing futsal against opponents older than him, which has helped boost his physicality so he doesn’t look out of place in the first team.