Fabrizio Romano has stated that Manchester United should abandon any hopes of signing a player from Aston Villa, according to TEAMtalk. The claim emerged during a broader discussion about United's transfer plans, though no specific Villa player was identified as being off limits.
The vast majority of Romano's comments focused on Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde. TEAMtalk reports that United explored a move for the 22-year-old during the summer window, which closed on 1 September, but were unable to agree terms.
United had reportedly sought a loan arrangement with an option to buy, discussions that involved Balde's agent Jorge Mendes and Barcelona director Deco. However, the Spanish club were said to be willing to consider only a permanent transfer, and wage demands also proved problematic.
With the transfer window now shut until January 2027, Romano indicated that the door remains open for United to revisit a deal for Balde in the winter, depending on how the coming months unfold at Barcelona.
For Villa supporters, the brief mention serves only to confirm that their squad is not viewed as a target for United's upcoming recruitment. The Premier League champions cannot complete any new signings until the new year regardless.
