Sergio Romero Asks Man Utd to Cancel His Contract

Sergio Romero has been frozen out at Man Utd
Sergio Romero has been frozen out at Man Utd / Michael Regan/Getty Images
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Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero has asked the club to cancel his contract before the end of the month. Despite deadlines in Europe passing last week, that would allow him to join a team in Major League Soccer, where the transfer window remains open until 29 October.

Romero has lost his place at Old Trafford as back-up to David de Gea as a result of home-grown Dean Henderson returning to the club since last season.

Dean Henderson has taken Romero's place
Dean Henderson has taken Romero's place / Pool/Getty Images

The veteran Argentine, who played in the 2014 World Cup final, was excluded from United’s Champions League squad. But the club had earlier blocked a proposed move to Everton, prompting his wife to furiously accuse United officials of lacking respect.

It is thought that despite rumours of Everton willing to pay Romero’s full wages to take him on loan, that United were holding out for a permanent transfer in the region of £10m.

The club’s treatment of Romero and refusal to let the 33-year-old leave is also thought to have disappointed a number of his United teammates, who have expressed their sympathy for him and the way he has suddenly been frozen out after five years of loyal service.

The Sun describes Romero as ‘desperate’ to leave United, reporting that talks between the goalkeeper, his representatives and the club have taken place.

During those discussions it is said to have been made clear that he wants to move on in search of playing time. It is even suggested that Romero would waive any sort of pay-off for the club to cancel the remaining year of his contract, even though he could be entitled to an estimated £1.5m.

Becoming a free agent would give the player the flexibility to more easily secure a move to MLS. United are already thought to have rejected Marcos Rojo’s request to cancel his contract, although the defender was reported to have wanted his contract paid off.

It is in United’s interests to remove Romero from the books, even if that means not collecting any sort of transfer fee. The club is thought to be spending £575,000 per week on goalkeeper salaries alone, dwarfing the outlays of all of their Premier League rivals.


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