BREAKING: Alessia Russo LEAVES Manchester United after 18 months of failed contract talks… with Arsenal poised to snap up England star on free transfer
Alessia Russo has left Man United after failing to agree a contract extensionUnited were keen to keep hold of their star striker but were slow to match Arsenal’s bidRusso has interest from America and Europe but is likely to join the Gunners
Alessia Russo has left Manchester United after rejecting multiple contract offers, and the England striker is now likely to join rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.
Russo, 24, has been in high demand since last summer’s Euros and attracted a world-record bid from the Gunners in January, which United rejected.
Arsenal can now sign Russo for free and are favorites to do so, but there is also interest from two American clubs and at least one other European side, believed to be French champions Lyon.
United hoped that qualifying for the Champions League and finishing second in the WSL would be enough to convince Russo to stay.
The club believe they made a very good offer for the striker, which would have made her the highest-paid player in the history of United’s women’s team, and are disappointed she has decided not to accept.
Alessia Russo (right) has left Manchester United after failing to agree a contract extension
The England star is likely to join Arsenal, who are frontrunners to capture the now free agent
Russo’s representatives had been trying to agree a new deal with United for the past 18 months but had been frustrated by the length of negotiations.
United eventually agreed to match Arsenal’s wage offer, but not until the end of the process, which is believed to have been the driving force behind his decision to leave.
Polly Bancroft, United’s head of women’s football, had started the negotiations before Sam Barnett, head of men’s contracts, was brought in to help.
Russo is understood to have been keen to stay at United, the team he has supported since childhood, but his reluctance to match Arsenal’s wages until late was the deciding factor in his leave
Russo cannot officially sign for another club until July 1, but is keen to decide his future before flying to Australia for the World Cup.
Russo wanted to sort out his club’s future before flying to Australia for the next World Cup
Russo was United’s joint top scorer last season after scoring 10 goals in 20 games
He also wanted to clear up speculation about whether he would stay at United before turning up for the England squad on Monday.
The striker finished as United’s joint top scorer last season alongside Leah Galton, with 10 goals in 20 games.
Russo began his career in Charlton’s youth set-up before moving to Chelsea and then Brighton.
He then spent two years in America with college team Carolina Tar Heels before joining United in September 2020.
