Man Utd looking to sign another Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani after ‘secret scouting mission’

Manchester United scouts were recently in attendance to watch Benfica youngster Antonio Silva, according to reports. The 18-year-old Portuguese teenager is regarded as one of his country’s hottest prospects, having enjoyed a fine start to the season. And while he’s been linked with a move to Real Madrid, a blockbuster move to Old Trafford could be on the cards instead.

Manchester United have previously signed some top prospects from Portuguese football, particularly when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager.

They landed Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon when he was 18 back in the summer transfer window of 2003, shortly after the departure of the popular David Beckham to Real Madrid.

And they then repeated the trick four years later with Nani, who arrived at the age of 20.

United are always on the lookout for top young players and now, according to The Mirror, they’ve set their sights on a deal for Benfica star Silva.

It’s said the Red Devils recently watched him in action against PSG last week, with Benfica securing a 1-1 draw in their Champions League clash.

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The teenager held his own during the match at the Stadium of Light, managing to nullify the threat of Kylian Mbappe on a frustrating night for the France international.

United are well-stocked at centre-back at present.

They landed Lisandro Martinez from Ajax back in the summer, while they’ve also got the likes of Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof as options.

Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe remain at the club, too, despite Erik ten Hag deeming the pair surplus to requirements.

But United are planning for a brighter future and Silva would fit into the young, hungry type of player they’re looking to bring in.

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On top of Ronaldo and Nani, the Red Devils have also signed other Portuguese youngsters over the years – though without the same success.

Diogo Dalot was brought in from Porto in 2018 and, while he’s become a regular under Ten Hag, the jury remains out on the right-back.

Joel Pereira was once tipped to challenge David De Gea for the No 1 jersey but, these days, plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk.

And the less said about Bebe the better, with the forward considered one of Ferguson’s worst-ever signings he made for the club.

Silva has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, too.

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But he’d arguably get a better chance of action at United, especially if one of Lindelof or Maguire was to depart come the end of the season.

Ten Hag, meanwhile, recently provided an update on United’s possible transfer plans for the January window.

He said: “I was already aware (of the financial results) but the conclusion that I only look for is buys.

“But what you have to prepare is what can happen.

“You have to look to your squad, what is now there. It is not only about conversations over (signings), it’s also about thinking, working out strategies, and how you see your players.

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“How do you want to play? How do the players fit in? It’s a huge scale, what you have to develop in such periods.

“The periods of international breaks give you some time. Also some other aspects, shorter term, strategies for the coming games.

“At this moment the most important, we finalise block one, now we go to block two. Huge challenge, because we play big games and we have to be ready for that, so that’s what our planning has to be.

“We prepare game plans, we prepare training, prepare the programmes.”

United backed Ten Hag with six summer signings, with the likes of Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka all coming in.

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