He may have been given the captain’s armband against Milan but Matteo Darmian is still hoping to quit Manchester United this summer as he does not feel he will play enough first-team football.
Manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed he will allow the Italian to leave in this transfer window but warned they had not had a realistic offer for the full-back and would not let him go cheaply.
Mourinho also praised Darmian’s attitude – which is why he made him captain for the game in Los Angeles on Wednesday – but both men would prefer to part ways before the start of the Premier League campaign.
At the age of 28, Darmian does not want to spend another season offering cover at right-back, particularly following the £19m arrival of young Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot.
And Mourinho would like to free up some room on the wage bill as he continues to wait for a breakthrough in the club’s pursuit of Leicester City’s England international Harry Maguire.
“It was an honour for me to be captain and I’m very happy,” said Darmian. “It was probably because we played against my old team [Milan].
“But yes, I still want to leave, that what I want. But we will see what happens because we don’t know. I don’t think the injury of Antonio Valencia is a big injury. I don’t know how long he needs to stay out, but at the moment he is the captain, he’s first choice.
“I want to play more regularly. Last season I didn’t play much – that’s my objective and my ambition. That’s why I spoke with the manager and also with the club about my future.”
As with all English clubs, the earlier close to the transfer window this summer is causing United problems and there is a decent chance they will not be able to force Leicester to sell Maguire and will not be able to find a buyer for Darmian either.
“I’m waiting to see what happens,” added Darmian. “If I stay I stay and I’ll do what I did up until now. If I go it is because the offer that another team makes will be good.
“It has been a difficult decision [to want to leave]. To play for probably the best club in the world is a good thing and for me it’s an honour to play here. But we have to take decisions in our life and this is my decision. A return to Italy could be an option.”