- Man Utd eyeing Marc Pubill
- Liverpool and Chelsea also interested
- Atletico Madrid want €500m release clause in contract
Manchester United are reportedly looking to win the race for one of La Liga’s most talked-about young defenders, but locking down a deal this summer is going to be far from straightforward.
According to CaughtOffside, United are keen on Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill. However, the Red Devils face heavy competition for the player.
Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea, alongside European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, are all eyeing Pubill. He has caught the eye with outstanding displays at the Metropolitano.
Man Utd keen on Pubill
Pubill has experienced a meteoric rise under Diego Simeone since moving to Atleti from Almería in 2025. Initially signed as a right-back, the 22-year-old Spaniard has been converted into a brilliant, versatile defender.
Over the course of 36 appearances this past season, he emerged as one of the top young centre-backs in Spain, earning a call-up to the senior national team ahead of the World Cup.
With Michael Carrick preparing United for a return to Champions League football, a player with Pubill’s specific profile makes a massive amount of sense. His ability to effortlessly drift between right-back and centre-back provides exactly the kind of modern tactical flexibility United desperately need to navigate a gruelling multi-competition schedule.
Bonkers release clause
While the interest from Old Trafford is concrete, striking a deal looks incredibly difficult right now. Atleti know exactly what kind of talent they have on their hands.
Reports out of Spain indicate that the La Liga giants are already working on rewarding Pubill with a brand-new contract extending until 2031. Crucially, they are looking to protect him with an astronomical €500 million release clause, effectively slapping a giant “do not touch” sign on the defender.
Atletico have no intention of letting him leave on the cheap this summer. While INEOS and Carrick will undoubtedly continue monitoring the Spaniard, forcing a move through in the immediate future seems highly unrealistic unless Pubill himself pushes for an exit. Still, the fact that United are actively positioning themselves at the front of the queue for Europe’s elite young talents shows exactly the direction the club is trying to head in.
