Former Barcelona star 'rejected Man Utd' to move to Saudi Pro League this summer

Erik ten Hag's 'first-choice' target reportedly rejected Manchester United in favour of a move to the Saudi Pro League.

The Red Devils had a busy transfer deadline day, signing goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce, Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon, and free agent Jonny Evans.

While they finally drafted in Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat after months of speculation, with the Morocco World Cup star signing on a season-long loan which includes an option to buy.

Before that, Ten Hag added Andre Onana from Inter Milan, Mason Mount from Chelsea and Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta to help build on last season's Carabao Cup win and third-placed finish in the Premier League.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing for the Old Trafford outfit, who lost out on signing former Barcelona midfielder Frank Kessie to Saudi Pro League Al-Ahli.

According to Spanish outlet Relevo, the Ivorian was United‘s "first choice" midfield target this summer, with the club matching Al Ahli’s €16m (£13.6m) bid for Kessie.

Having previously rejected a swap deal to Inter Milan back in January, which would have seen Al-Nassr’s Marcelo Brozovic head in the other direction, Kessie allegedly also turned down English giants Manchester United.

The report states that the 26-year-old preferred a move to the Middle East, just a year since he joined Barcelona from AC Milan.

Indeed, Kessie is not the only player to have snubbed down a move to Old Trafford this summer, with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos having also rejected United in favour of a return to boyhood club Sevilla this summer.

That's according to The Sun, who claim that the Red Devils "made a late play to sign Ramos as the transfer window prepared to shut", which was promptly turned down by the Spaniard.