MANCHESTER UNITED snubbed the opportunity to sign Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix before he completed a loan move to Barcelona.
However, United were not the only Premier League side to turn down the opportunity to sign the 23-year-old.
Felix made a move to Barcelona on transfer deadline day having been linked with a number of European giants.
Prior to the move he publicly made comments about the Catalan side being his dream team which did not impress Atletico boss Diego Simeone or former winger for the club Paulo Futre.
According to Futre, Felix’s agent, Jorge Mendes informed him that he had talks with Manchester United about signing the forward but they were not in favour of a deal.
It’s claimed Manchester City also snubbed the transfer.
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Futre told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero: “When Joao said he dreamed of playing for Barca I began to live a nightmare that lasts to this day.
“I called Jorge Mendes and told him the statements that Joao had made and he said no.
“We argued on the phone and he told me that he had spoken to Manchester United.
“I can verify what he told me because I have friends and they said it was true.
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“Later he had spoken with Manchester City, I also checked and they didn’t want Joao either.”
The forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, making 20 appearances and scoring four goals.
He has managed three goals and two assists from four games for Barca.
The only serious interest from the Premier League came from Aston Villa who had an agreement with Atletico at the start of July.
Confused by the lack of interest, Futre added: “What happened between Joao and Diego Simeone happens every day in football.
“It’s something normal. What is not normal is that phenomenal coaches knew that Joao was a genius but nobody wanted him.
“Neither Arteta, nor Guardiola, nor Klopp, any club… My question is why?
“The only team that has wanted him has been Aston Villa.
“Joao said no when there was an agreement between Atletico and Aston Villa at the beginning of July.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
