Manchester United talent gets chance to partner £90m star Red Devils once tried to sign .

 Manchester United defender Axel 

Tuanzebe is close to sealing a loan move

 to Napoli, reports The Guardian.

Tuanzebe’s stint at Aston Villa was fairly

 unimpressive and he failed to win 

over new boss Steven Gerrard, even though

 he insisted he wanted to keep him.

The move to Napoli is a great opportunity

 for Tuanzebe to rejuvenate his career. 

Now 24, he needs a fresh start, having 

entered the season as fifth choice 

at Manchester United.

A combination of misfortune with 

injuries and mixed displays, some 

outstanding, some poor, have made it 

tough for Tuanzebe to establish himself

 at Old Trafford.

The last two English centre-backs to 

make loan moves to Italy have played 

so well they both ended up signing in 

Serie A on a permanent basis.

The first of these was Tuanzebe’s former

 United clubmate Chris Smalling, 

who starred for Roma during the 2019

/20 season, and the Italian side went 

onto sign him permanently.

Chelsea loaned Fikayo Tomori to 

AC Milan last January in a move 

Tuanzebe  may also find inspiring. 

Timori  was really impressive and 

established himself as a regular in 

the defence, and Milan took advantage of 

a buy clause in the loan agreement to 

sign him permanently

There is no such purchase option in Napoli’s

 loan deal for Tuanzebe, but considering 

the competition for places at United, if 

he is a success and plays regularly, a 

permanent move could suit all parties, 

with United getting the chance to cash 

in on a squad player.

One key attraction for Tuanzebe is getting

 the chance to partner towering Napoli

 centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

The times reported how United tried to 

sign Koulibaly in 2018 when Jose 

Mourinho was in charge, only to be quoted

 £90 million by Napoli.

So while Tuanzebe could have ended 

up partnering Koulibaly at United had

 that deal gone through, the pair will 

now get the chance to play together 

in Serie A.

This partnership will help Tuanzebe, 

with Koulibaly an experienced and strong

 defender who will make life easier for him.

With Koulibaly only 30, this is a partnership

 which could last a few seasons still 

if Tuanzebe signs in Naples permanently.