Benfica President has notified Manchester United that they would have to meet the buy out fee of Axel Witsel if they want to sign him this summer.
The 23 year old Belgian has had a terrific campaign for the Primeira Liga side and has been followed keenly by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Fergie is still in search for a midfielder and after accepting defeat in the battle to sign Luka Modric, he has now turned to this young combative midfielder.
Witsel, 23 year old, moved to Estadio da Luz last summer from Standard Liege for a sum of £6.3m and has since been a key figure in Jorge Jesus’ side which ended runners up in the Primeira Liga and reached the quarter finals of the Champions League last season before losing out to eventual champions Chelsea. And Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira has ruled out a sale unless interested clubs are willing to pay €40m.
“Would we sell Witsel? Only if someone pays his release clause,” Vieira told radio station Antenna 1.
“We know the clubs that are interested. They would have to pay a lot for him to go, but it doesn’t come into our heads to sell him.”