Harry Amass politely declined when approached for an interview in Trondheim after playing the second half of Manchester United's friendly against Rosenborg. A week earlier, Radek Vitek had stopped to tell reporters he wanted to leave United this summer, and Amass may have been advised to keep his head down.
Uncertainty around Amass's future
There appears to be something bubbling behind the scenes regarding Amass. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the youngster could leave United on a permanent transfer this summer for around £6 million. It is fair to say his future is uncertain, but United should do everything they can to keep him, as he looks ready to contribute to the first team in the new campaign.
Amass is ambitious and wants to start consistently after experiencing regular football in the Championship. His mind may already be made up, in which case United would have no option but to cut ties. However, there has been no indication from sources that Amass is pushing to leave.
Lessons from Alvaro Fernandez's departure
That does not mean he is not angling for a move privately. If so, United must convince him of the pathway they see for him, otherwise they risk losing another promising left-back. Alvaro Fernandez saw his future at United but felt he had no choice but to leave two years ago after being overlooked by Erik ten Hag. He signed for Benfica for €6 million (£5.2m) plus €3m (£2.6m) in add-ons, with United inserting a 15% sell-on clause and a buy-back option.
Just a year later, Fernandez moved to Real Madrid in a €50 million (£43m) deal, leaving supporters wondering why he was allowed to slip through the net. Although he has not set the world alight at Madrid, there is talk of Xabi Alonso wanting to sign him for Chelsea. The circumstances of Fernandez's exit should be remembered by United when dealing with Amass this summer.
