The opening of the summer window may be a source of excitement for most fans – how Manchester United need an injection of fresh blood, for instance – but for a footballer’s family, transfer season often brings nothing more than stress and uncertainty.
His cameo appearance in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur may be Alejandro Garnacho’s last stand as a Manchester United player.
Garnacho already has ‘one foot out’ the Old Trafford door. Andre Onana may have committed one blunder too many – Roy Keane pulled no punches when criticising the goalkeeper’s role in Spurs’ oh-so avoidable 42nd minute winner – while Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund maybe sealed their fates on a night which could be the catalyst for Manchester United’s own ‘Red Wedding’ moment.
Victor Lindelof appears equally unlikely to survive a brutal but overdue purge.
According to reports, Ruben Amorim is ready to cut Lindelof loose alongside the similarly out-of-contract Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen.
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Victor Lindelof’s wife discusses impact of Manchester United exit
From a sporting perspective, shifting 30-year-old Lindelof is a decision few would argue against. The long-serving Sweden international has not been a regular starter really since the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer days.
Yet, from a purely human angle, the prospect of Lindelof being forced to uproot his young family and leave their beloved Manchester home behind after eight years provides a brutal insight into the other, less cushy side of life as an elite-level athlete.
“I’m prepared to sit with a baby, hormonal, and just cry while I maybe pack my bags and say goodbye to my whole life,” Maja Lindelof tells Elle, the Man United defender’s wife is expecting her third child this summer.
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“Manchester is our children’s only home, so it will be really tough for everyone.”
This is not the first time Maja Lindelof has opened up on the difficulties and the uncertainty caused by an expiring contract.
“I actually love England. We have lived there for seven years now,” Maja told the Ursakta podcast in August 2024, when Victor was being linked with clubs in Turkey and Italy.
“So it really is like my home.
“We’ve been lucky because Victor has signed on for five years at a time. We have friends who have moved every year. I suffer with them.”
Lindelof open to Benfica return as Old Trafford exit looms
Man United paid £30 million to sign Lindelof during the Jose Mourinho era nearly a decade ago. He had spent the previous five years in Portugal, winning a trio of Primeira Liga titles.
Lindelof would welcome a return to Benfica. The Iberian giants have recent form when it comes to bringing back old favourites. One-time Man United winger Angel di Maria spent two joyous spells at the Estadio da Luz 13 years apart.
“Benfica as a club means a lot to me,” Lindelof told Sport TV in March. “It’s the club that made me the player I am today. I don’t know what will happen and what my decision will be.
“But it’s a club that means a lot to me and a club that I like. I don’t only have myself to think about. It’s a decision we have to make together as a family.”