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Latest UK 3mos ago
England ace was 'close' to joining Man Utd – 'I knew City and Liverpool weren't realistic'
Source:Latest UK

Two-and-a-half years before, though, the versatile defender had a difficult decision on his hands. While he was still playing for Atletico Madrid, with whom he won a La Liga title with, he had the opportunity to return to the Premier League.

Home was calling for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender, who decided he wanted to return to England after three years in the Spanish capital. While he elected to choose Newcastle United in the 2022 January transfer window, Trippier revealed the Red Devils had a serious interest in his services in the previous summer.

"I could have stayed at Atletico Madrid, I could have signed a new 3-year contract. Simeone in the car park on the day I was leaving didn't want me to go but it was the right thing at the right time for my family.

"As players you have to be realistic of where you can go. I knew I wasn't going to sign for Manchester City or Liverpool, I knew I was restricted to certain clubs. [Manchester] United did come [in for me] straight after the Euros and that was very close. I grew up with my family being reds, but it didn't happen. Everything happens for a reason."

"It didn't happen and I was back at Madrid. Six months later I was at Newcastle.

"Everyone raised their eyebrows, obviously people were saying, 'He is going for the money, and he is going for this and that'.

Trippier was part of Eddie Howe's side which broke into the top four in the 2022/23 campaign to qualify for the Champions League. Despite the Magpies taking a step backwards this season and Trippier's campaign being hampered by injuries, Gareth Southgate still opted to take Trippier to Germany for the Euros.

The ex-Burnley defender played the full 90 minutes in the recent victory over Serbia, filling it at left-back in the absence of United's Luke Shaw.