Manchester United have been dealt a major transfer blow as Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic will not leave the Spanish club this summer, according to his agent.
With Robin van Persie linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, Red Devils’ boss Louis Van Gaal is desperate to bring in a new striker and view the 29-year-old Croatia international as an ideal replacement.
However, Dutchman’s hopes of bringing in the Croat dashed on Tuesday when player’s agent Ivan Cvjetkovic said that he is not considering a move away from Vicente Calderon this summer.
Mandzukic enjoyed an impressive La Liga season after joining Atletico from Bayern Munich last summer and scored 12 goals in 27 appearances.
“Mario has only completed the first of his four years at the club so I see no reason why some speak of a possible exit” Cvjetkovic told Tportal.
Cvjetkovic cleared the air over Mandzukic’s future a day after former Croatia midfielder Milan Rapaic claimed that the forward is close to joining United.
“He’s perfect for any team in any European league…… It appears to me that he’s very close to Manchester United,” Rapaic told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Besides Red Devils, Mandzukic is also being tracked by a host of other top European clubs this summer including Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, AC Milan and Roma.