Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind has expressed his interest in returning to the club and reuniting with manager Erik ten Hag. Blind, who spent four successful years at United before returning to Ajax, revealed that he had considered offering himself to the Red Devils during the January transfer window.
Blind’s initial move to Manchester came after an impressive 2014 World Cup campaign with the Netherlands under the guidance of Louis van Gaal. He played a crucial role during the 2015/16 season, excelling as a central defender and making the most appearances (56) of any United player as they clinched the FA Cup. However, his prominence diminished under the management of Jose Mourinho, leading to his return to Ajax in 2018.
During his second spell at Ajax, Blind became an integral part of Erik ten Hag’s team, which achieved domestic success by winning the league and cup double. They also made headlines in Europe, narrowly missing out on the 2019 Champions League title and defeating the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus along the way.
Blind mutually agreed to leave Ajax in the middle of the 2022/23 season and was quickly signed by Bayern Munich on a short-term contract to address a squad deficiency. In an interview on the UTD Podcast, the 33-year-old admitted that he contemplated reaching out to Ten Hag about a potential move back to Manchester United but ultimately refrained from doing so.
Blind explained that the connection with his former manager is not distant, as they share the same agent. However, he acknowledged that Ten Hag had already made signings in his position, including Lisandro Martinez, and respected his decision. Blind expressed gratitude for the time he spent under Ten Hag’s guidance, emphasizing the valuable lessons he learned.
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With his contract at Bayern Munich expiring at the end of the month, Daley Blind is set to become a free agent. His admission of interest in returning to United has ignited speculation about a potential reunion between the player and his former club. Only time will tell if Blind’s wish will come to fruition and if he will once again don the iconic red shirt of Manchester United.
