BAD BOY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL AURIER WILL BE A BIG MAN UTD SUCCESS IF...

The huge quality of the controversial PSG right back is not in doubt, but he needs to clean up his act off the pitch if he is to shine at Old Trafford
Article continues below

PROFILE
Serge Aurier is set to depart Paris Saint-Germain in the coming days, having been handed the opportunity by Manchester United to prove that his potentially brilliant career will not be spoiled by unprofessionalism.

At 24, Aurier has already collected armfuls of silverware both domestically in France and on the international scene with Ivory Coast. But while he commands a wealth of experience on the field, his career threatens to be undermined by persistent misdemeanours away from it.

Man Utd 15/4 to win Premier League

Although he has already agreed terms with Jose Mourinho’s side and a deal between the clubs should be found, a conviction hanging over his head may complicate his work permit application.

Aurier, who said as early as 2011 that it would be “fantastic” to play in the Premier League, has already been denied a visa to enter the UK in the past , embarrassingly missing PSG’s Champions League trip to face Arsenal in 2016 as a result. He was thwarted by a conviction for assaulting a police officer outside of a nightclub in Paris – the type of controversial activity that has seen the Ligue 1 side elect to move him on.