Matteo Darmian not for sale in January - Agent

Matteo Darmian's agent Tullio Tinti has confirmed that the full-back won't be parting ways with Manchester United during the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old has been restricted to just seven starts this campaign, and this has led to speculation of him pursuing a move back to the Serie A.

In a report covered by Rete Sport, Tinti revealed that there is indeed transfer interest from the Italian top-flight, but his client is likely to stay put at Old Trafford for the season at the least. He added that the Giallorossi are not among the clubs interested in the versatile full-back despite being linked on several occasions since the summer, he said: "I haven’t had any calls from Roma for the player. There has been contact with other Serie A teams, but not with the Giallorossi. For the moment the lad isn’t for sale."

Darmian has got most of his chances in the right-back spot this season, but he has recently found himself on the periphery of the first-team. With Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young ruled out, Darmian would have been the ideal pick for a starting spot, but Mourinho instead opted to play Victor Lindelof on the right side of the defence versus Everton.

The likes of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe are due to offer competition for the right-back position in the future and Darmian's position looks genuinely bleak with just 18 months left on his contract. With the continuous injury concerns, Mourinho would not want to lose Darmian this month, but the exit door could be open when the season comes to a close.

Darmian does not have World Cup football to play for with Italy unlike some of his teammates, and this could potentially urge him to stay put with the Red Devils for the season with a view to proving his manager wrong, just as he did during the backend of last term.