Jean-Clair Todibo insists he was happy to stay put at OGC Nice this summer despite reported interest from Manchester United.
Speculation over the 23-year-old defender and his future with the French Ligue 1 outfit was at fever pitch during the recent transfer window. Todibo was mooted as a would-be replacement for Harry Maguire at Old Trafford, in the eventuality the England man sealed a proposed move to West Ham.
United accepted an offer worth £30million for the defender. Despite that, Maguire opted to stay put, which meant United had to shelve plans to sign another centre-back.
Manchester Evening News understands Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba was among the club’s main candidates, while reports from renowned French publication L’Equipe namedropped Todibo as a potential alternative target for the Premier League giants.
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However, Todibo, who previously played for Benfica and Barcelona, remains at Nice. The defender cost the French club €8.5million in 2021 and the club - owned by United takeover bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS - were thought to want £35million for Todibo’s signature had he moved on this summer.
And the player himself has now given his verdict on the speculation and transfer talk. As quoted by the Maxifoot website, Todibo said: “I’m very happy to have stayed honestly. Staying in Nice was one of the options, and I’m very happy here.
“The club has brought me a lot. I had opportunities elsewhere, I listened to them like any human being would have done, it was very good opportunities. But staying in Nice suits me, wonderfully, it’s great for me, I feel good here.”
Todibo has played 106 games for Nice in all competitions. Capped by France at U21s level, the defender has yet to make his debut for the senior international team.
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