Report: “Outstanding” £170k-a-week star wants to leave Man Utd, keen to join Champions League club

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof is anticipated to leave Old Trafford at the conclusion of the season, with a preference for a return to Benfica, as reported by sources in Portugal.

The 30-year-old centre-back has faced a challenging season with the struggling Premier League side and is likely to exit when his contract concludes in June.

Lindelof’s campaign has been plagued by injuries, restricting him to just over 400 minutes of play across all competitions, and he has made only two appearances in the Premier League since Ruben Amorim took over in November.

According to the Portuguese publication Record, the Sweden international is receptive to the idea of returning to a familiar setting after the season, having spent five years at Benfica prior to his transfer to United in 2017.

Victor Lindelof Eyes Benfica Return

Old Trafford contract set to expire

Lindelof is reportedly considering a return to Benfica this summer as a free agent, as noted by Record. The 30-year-old, who earns £170,000 per week and has been described as ‘outstanding,’ progressed through the youth system at the Lisbon club before becoming a regular in the first team, accumulating 73 senior appearances.

Benfica is expected to seek a central defender this summer, particularly as 37-year-old Nicolas Otamendi is being pursued by River Plate ahead of the expiration of his contract in June.

Manager Bruno Lage has three alternatives in defense—Tomas Araujo, Antonio Silva, and Adrian Bajrami—but the potential departure of the first two could lead to significant financial moves in the offseason, further weakening Benfica’s defensive lineup.

Manchester United is anticipated to release several veteran players this summer, including Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, and Lindelof, all of whom are out of contract.

Currently, the Red Devils are positioned 14th in the Premier League with 11 matches left to play, with their next fixture being a home game against Arsenal on Sunday.