‘People don’t know’: £63m player admits he nearly secretly signed for Man Utd

Manchester United have had their fair share of transfer near misses over the years.

Cesc Fabregas almost joined the Red Devils in his prime, Gareth Bale was a Manchester United target under David Moyes, while Paolo Di Canio almost ended up at Old Trafford in his heyday.

Now, another modern star has admitted that he almost signed for Manchester United.

Speaking to Adri Contreras on TikTok, former Real Madrid and Everton star, James Rodriguez, has claimed that he was close to signing for Manchester United earlier in his career.

The World Cup Golden Boot winner was asked about any failed transfers in his career, and he said that he almost joined Atletico Madrid, while, secretly he almost joined United too.

James Rodriguez admits he nearly joined Manchester United

Rodriguez was asked if he was ever close to making a transfer that people don’t know about.

The midfielder admitted that he nearly joined Atletico Madrid, while he went on to add that people also don’t realise how close he was to going to United.

Rodriguez’s biggest transfer of his career would be a £63m move to Real Madrid in 2014, while he would finally make his way to the Premier League in 2020 with Everton.

“Was there any team you were close to joining in the end but didn’t? Anything you can share?” Rodriguez was asked.

“Atlético Madrid – but I think I’d already said that. But another one people don’t know: Manchester United,” Rodriguez said.

James Rodriguez’s Premier League stats

James Rodriguez had the potential to be an absolute superstar.

There wasn’t a hotter property in world football after the 2014 World Cup, hence the big-money move to Real Madrid.

Sadly, Rodriguez’s body failed him more often than not during his career, and those mounting injuries affected his ability to be a top-level star.

Rodriguez would spend one season in the Premier League with Everton, and even amid injury issues, he still put up some very impressive numbers with the Toffees.

11 goal contributions in 23 matches is a solid return for a creative midfield player, and who knows? Perhaps if he’d ended up at Old Trafford earlier in his career, he could’ve become a star in Manchester.