Man United is on the way of signing Milinkovic-Savic... No, not the one you think of
After years chasing star midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Manchester United are reportedly in talks with his goalkeeper brother, Vanja, in a 'shock move.' Fans react as United eye a player they technically signed in 2014 but couldn't field due to a work permit issue, potentially finally getting a Milinkovic-Savic into their ranks.
In a surprising twist to one of football's longest-running transfer sagas, Manchester United are reportedly holding "exploratory contacts" regarding a move for Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, the lesser-known brother of their long-term target, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. For years, stretching back to Jose Mourinho's time at Old Trafford, United have been linked with a move for the star Serbian midfielder, who now plays his trade in Saudi Arabia. However, it is his 28-year-old goalkeeper sibling, Vanja, who currently plays for Torino, that the Red Devils are now reportedly keeping tabs on, in a move described as “surprising”.
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This potential transfer is particularly intriguing given Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's own peculiar history with Manchester United. A towering 6'8" goalkeeper, he technically agreed to sign for the club back in 2014 from Serbian side FK Vojvodina for a fee of €1.75 million.
'Nightmare spell'
However, his initial stint at Old Trafford proved to be a "nightmare spell." Despite being on United's books for 18 months, he did not play a single game for the club because he was unable to obtain a work permit required to play in England.
During this period, he resided in Belgrade, training with local clubs to maintain his fitness, before eventually departing for Polish club Lechia in November 2015. He later joined his current club, Torino, in January 2017, where his contract is set to expire in 2026.
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News of United's reported interest in Vanja has elicited "mixed emotions" from the club's fanbase on social media. Some fans have joked about the irony of United finally pursuing "a Milinković-Savić after all," while others have admitted they had "never heard of him before." The potential move has also sparked debates online comparing him to United's current goalkeepers.
After a protracted pursuit of the more famous brother, it appears Manchester United might, against fan expectations, be closer to securing a Milinkovic-Savic for their squad in the form of the goalkeeper who already has a strange, unplayed history with the club.
