Axel Tuanzebe agent hints at permanent Manchester United exit

01.02.2022 - 17:13 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Italian football agent Fabrizio Ferrari has refused to rule out the possibility of Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe joining Napoli on a permanent basis.

The centre-back joined the Serie A giants in the second week of the January transfer window on loan for the remainder of the season, following United's decision to cut his season-long loan at Aston Villa short.

Tuanzebe started the season as a first-team regular at Villa Park, but fell down the pecking order following Dean Smith's sacking and Steven Gerrard's appointment as manager in November.

Napoli took a liking to the 24-year-old and offered him the chance of regular first-team minutes between January and the end of the season. The deal did not feature an option to buy him in the summer.

Tuanzebe — who is contracted to United until 2023 — has made two appearances for the Italian club since his arrival, meaning they have not yet gauged a clear reading of what he could bring to Luciano Spalletti's squad.

Nevertheless, there has been talk of Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli wanting to make the deal permanent in the summer.

According to Ferrari, who acted as an intermediary in helping Napoli sign Tuanzebe, the prospect of him joining the Serie A club cannot be ruled out, although nothing is planned at the moment.

"At the moment it is a dry loan," Ferrari told TMW Radio. "It will be up to Axel’s family to talk about it with the club [Napoli] and eventually find an agreement.

"In the meantime, let's see how it goes, then we will judge."

Speaking at the time of Tuanzebe's arrival in Naples, Ferrari hinted that Tuanzebe would be open to making the move a permanent one.

He said: "There are all the margins, no doubt.

"Axel did not come here to do four