Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has revealed Manchester United never made a firm offer to sign him in 2013.
The Spain international was heavily linked with a move to United two-and-a-half years ago when he was still at Barcelona, with United supporters desperate for the club to sign a central midfielder.
David de Gea , Thiago's teammate in Spain's triumphant European Under-21 Championship-winning squad that summer, tried to convince him to join United, scrawling 'See you in Manchester' on Thiago's hat-trick ball he claimed in the final.
Pep Guardiola , though, instead made Thiago one of his first signings at Bayern.
"There was never any firm proposal," Thiago told the Daily Mail .
"David de Gea wanted me to join. He wrote a message on my match ball after we'd beaten Italy in the final. But I'd have done the same with him.
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"He is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world. You always want to play with the best. But it was always going to be Munich."
Thiago, still just 24, has suffered injury problems at Bayern and missed the 2014 World Cup due to a knee ligament injury, but has made 19 appearances for the Bundesliga champions this season.
Despite intense competition in the Bayern midfield, Thiago is content in Bavaria and has no plans to make move to England.
"All I will say is that it is an amazing league," he added. "It is probably the best league in the world but I'm very happy at Bayern and fulfilled with what I am doing."