Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron’s ill-fated move to Chelsea serves as a cautionary tale for current Red Devils starlet Kobbie Mainoo.. The United academy product, whose contract runs until 2027, is in discussions with the club over a new deal that would significantly boost his current £20,000-per-week salary to reflect his increased importance to the team. Reports claim that the 19-year-old’s representatives are pushing for a £200,000-a-week contract, which would put him among United’s top five earners.. Talk of him quadrupling his wages at the end of last season came to nothing and a stalemate has now emerged in negotiations over fresh terms. And the youngster’s uncertain future has reportedly piqued the interest of Premier League rivals Chelsea.. READ MORE: Kobbie Mainoo stance on his Manchester United future revealed amid growing PSR concerns. READ MORE: Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim speaks out on Kobbie Mainoo’s future. According to The Daily Mail, Mainoo knows he could secure a contract reflecting his talent at other clubs and is also concerned about United’s current 13th place league position. But despite the allure of fourth-placed Chelsea, former Premier League champion Veron still regrets making the same transfer move two decades ago.. The Argentine legend joined United in a £28m deal from Lazio in 2001. While he didn’t reach the expected heights at Old Trafford, Veron remains more frustrated about leaving the Red Devils to sign for Chelsea.. He told FourFourTwo in 2021: “I signed for United because I had a passport issue in Italy and thought a change of scenery would be good for my mind. Truth be told, I had a pessimistic view about playing in England, as I imagined that life there would be so different to what I was used to – the Latin lifestyle.. “But I found an extraordinary club. You could hardly find one as well-organised, with so many people willing to help. I had two great years in Manchester, winning the Premier League title.”. Juan Sebastian Veron enjoyed his time at Man United despite not meeting expectations (Image: Daily Mirror). Veron was sold to Chelsea just two years after his arrival for just half the transfer fee United had shelled out. Although he kicked off his stint at Chelsea with a goal against Liverpool, his form rapidly declined, leading to a loan spell at Inter Milan and eventually a return to his boyhood team Estudiantes in Argentina.. Recalling his Chelsea spell, Veron explained: “I felt that going to Chelsea could have been a good chance for me to get a longer sequence of matches, but I shouldn’t have gone there.. “I don’t say that because of Chelsea, though. It’s nice to have a club wanting to sign you, excited that you can do something for them. To make an investment like that, the club has to believe in you and trust you.. “I actually found it tougher to live in London than Manchester because I’m from La Plata, which is quite a small city. I wish I could have stayed at United longer, as I believe I could have done things differently. If I’d stayed in Manchester, I think I would have had more continuity on the pitch.”. The Argentine regrets joining Chelsea (Image: Press Association). Limited playing time could similarly hinder Mainoo’s development at Stamford Bridge. The Blues in recent years have invested heavily in players in his position, meaning he would have to compete with the likes of Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo for a starting spot.. Moreover, as a Stockport native who has never lived outside of Greater Manchester, Mainoo may struggle to adapt to life in the capital. Despite all the speculation surrounding his future, United head coach Ruben Amorim has expressed his desire to retain the midfielder.. “My players are always my favourites,” said Amorim. “I really love my players, I want to keep them, especially the talented ones. It’s a hard moment, but I’m really happy with Kobbie, he is improving.. “Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club, but we know the position the club is in at the moment [in terms of PSR]. We will see. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy.”. Sign up to get even more from our Man United coverage. We want your views, Reds. You can become even more involved with our Man United coverage by signing up. This will unlock a whole host of things – including joining the comments and taking part in our special Q&As, where you can speak directly to our reporters about what’s happening at Old Trafford this week and beyond.. Click here to get started.
