Man Utd make contract decision on Vilde Boe Risa
Manchester United midfielder Vilde Boe Risa appears set to stay at the club next season, with manager Marc Skinner hinting the 12-month option in her expiring contract will be triggered.
Boe Risa joined United from Norwegian side Sandviken in the summer 2021, signing an initial two-year deal with an option for the club to extend it until 2024.
The 27-year-old is one of a number of United players in a similar situation as the end of the season nears alongside the likes of Hannah Blundell and Martha Thomas. The same also goes for Hayley Ladd and Mary Earps, but talks over fresh longer-term contracts are underway with both players.
“Vilde has an option on her contract, so it’s not expiring,” Skinner said on Friday morning.
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“I’ll continue to be clear and hopefully this is the last time I have to speak about it. Vilde has been exceptional in moments this year – there is still a lot of the game we want her to work on, but she’s been great. The balance of our team is really important so that you fit the right physical balance, with the right mental balance and the right communication balance.”
Boe Risa is a fan favourite but has seen limited game time so far this season amid stiff competition for midfield places. She has often excelled in cup games and turned in a top performance in a rare WSL start against Tottenham in United’s recent win over Tottenham, before somewhat surprisingly remaining an unused substitute during the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
“It’s not about Vilde not being a good player,” Skinner stressed. “Vilde is excellent and one of the best characters, I have no doubt about that. We just have to try and strike a balance. Sometimes that hasn’t given Vilde as many minutes as she would like, but we are where we are for a reason as well.
“We can look at all of the things we should have done, and there are the things that we’ve actually done that have got us to where we are right now. There’s always an argument on both sides.”
Boe Risa’s lack of minutes at club level this season has posed a risk to her place in the Norway squad, although since being dropped by coach Hege Riise at the start of the campaign, she has reclaimed her place and was part of the most recent Norwegian camp last month.
Other WSL clubs had shown interest during the January transfer window.
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