Man Utd dealt blow as outcast looks set to stay

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof has been pictured using crutches amid talks of an exit from Old Trafford.

The centre-back could be dealing with a serious injury.

Lindelof was missing from the Red Devils’ matchday squad to face Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday evening, a game that ended 1-0 to the Premier League giants.

The Sweden international did not feature in the trip to London to face Manchester City in the Community Shield, either.

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Man Utd head coach Erik ten Hag told reporters during that period that Lindelof was suffering from a fitness problem, but he remained coy about the details.

Today, Lindelof’s wife, Maja Nilsson Lindelof, uploaded a video on her Instagram stories, showing her husband using a crutch.

She captioned the video with the message, “Doing everything in slow motion these days.”

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Man Utd bought two new centre-backs to the first-team this summer window – with Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt coming in.

Yoro, however, has since been ruled out for three months after sustaining a metatarsal injury. Even still, it means Lindelof is the fifth choice centre-back at the club, behind Lisandro Martinez, De Ligt and Harry Maguire too.

Jonny Evans was given a one-year contract extension this summer and came off the bench in the win over Fulham on Friday.

Which clubs are interested in Lindelof?

There have been rumours linking Lindelof to Fenerbahce – Jose Mourinho, the former Man Utd manager, is hoping to sign the centre-back but no offer has been forthcoming.

Then Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Serie A side Fiorentina are keen on the player.

Di Marzio wrote: “Fiorentina have set their sights on Lindelof.

“The player still has a year of contract with Manchester United, a club with which he has a salary of 3 million euros.

“At the moment, Fiorentina are working to understand the possible conditions of exit and a contribution to the salary at Manchester United.”

Man Utd made a huge number of their players available for sale this summer – with Lindelof included. However, no buying club will pull the trigger if he has picked up a serious injury.