'I joined Chelsea from Man Utd like Kobbie Mainoo could - it was my biggest career regret'

Kobbie Mainoo is still being paid just £20,000 per week by Manchester United and has been unable to agree terms over a new contract, which has sparked Chelsea's interest in the January transfer window

Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron's failed Chelsea move serves as a warning to current Red Devils star Kobbie Mainoo.

United academy graduate Mainoo is currently under contract until 2027 but is in talks with the club over a new deal which would drastically increase his current £20,000-per-week wages to reflect his new-found value to the team. It is understood that the 19-year-old's representatives are seeking a £200,000-a-week contract which would place him among United's top five earners.

Talk of him tripling his wages at the end of last season came to nothing and a stalemate has now emerged in negotiations over fresh terms. The teenager's uncertain future has also reportedly caught the attention of Premier League rivals Chelsea, who are ready to offer him an escape route with a bid in the region of £70million.

The Daily Mail reports Mainoo is aware that he would be offered terms that reflect his talent at other clubs, while he is also reportedly worried about United's slide as the club currently sitting 13th in the league. But while fourth-placed Chelsea are an attractive destination, former Premier League winner Veron still has regrets over making the same move to this day.

The Argentine legend joined United in a £28m deal from Lazio in 2001. While he failed to hit the heights expected of him at Old Trafford, Veron remains more frustrated about leaving the Red Devils to sign for Chelsea.

He told FourFourTwo in 2021: "I signed for United because I had a passport issue in Italy and thought a change of scenery would be good for my mind. Truth be told, I had a pessimistic view about playing in England, as I imagined that life there would be so different to what I was used to - the Latin lifestyle.

"But I found an extraordinary club. You could hardly find one as well-organised, with so many people willing to help.I had two great years in Manchester, winning the Premier League title."

Veron was offloaded to Chelsea just two years after his arrival for half the transfer fee United paid for him. Despite marking his debut against Liverpool with a goal, he faded quickly and joined Inter Milan on loan before moving back to boyhood club Estudiantes in Argentina.

Speaking about his time at Chelsea, Veron added: "I felt that going to Chelsea could have been a good chance for me to get a longer sequence of matches, but I shouldn't have gone there.

"I don't say that because of Chelsea, though. It's nice to have a club wanting to sign you, excited that you can do something for them. To make an investment like that, the club has to believe in you and trust you.

"I actually found it tougher to live in London than Manchester because I'm from La Plata, which is quite a small city. I wish I could have stayed at United longer, as I believe I could have done things differently. If I'd stayed in Manchester, I think I would have had more continuity on the pitch."

A lack of regular game time on the pitch is something that could negatively affect Mainoo and his career progression at Stamford Bridge. The Blues in recent years have shelled out hundreds of millions on players in the same position, meaning he would have to battle with Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo for a regular starting berth.

Furthermore, Mainoo, who hails from Stockport, has never lived outside of the Greater Manchester area and, like Veron, could feel similarly out of his depth in the capital. And despite the rumours over his future, United boss Ruben Amorim recently reaffirmed his desire to keep the midfielder.

"My players are always my favourites," said Amorim. "I really love my players, I want to keep them, especially the talented ones. It's a hard moment, but I'm really happy with Kobbie, he is improving.

"Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club, but we know the position the club is in at the moment [in terms of PSR]. We will see. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy."