Ivan Perisic Explains 'Painful' Failure To Make Transfer To Manchester United

Jose Mourinho was desperate to bring Ivan Perisic to Manchester United but the deal never got done, with the Croatian eventually moving to Bayern Munich, now he's opened up about the pain at the failed move.

Perisic impressed for Inter and Croatia and it led to Mourinho being ready to give up Anthony Martial to the Italians in order to sign the winger.

The board didn't want to lose the Frenchman or pay the money for Perisic so it never happened. Speaking to the Athletic the winger explained how painful missing out on the move was, saying, "How close was I going there? Very close.

"It was an amazing thing for me when Jose called me. It was difficult to say no to him. In fact, I really, really wanted to join him and play for United. It was a dream of mine to play in all the big leagues. But it didn't happen.

"It was painful for me. But I don't want to go into the details. I only found out myself the real reasons two years later."

Perisic dreamed of United whilst at Inter. Image: PA Images

Speaking on Russian TV during the 2018 World Cup even Mourinho himself explained he didn't know why the transfer never happened, explaining, "Perisic, he went from Croatia to Dortmund to Wolfsburg to Inter.

"I don't know why he didn't come to Manchester when I wanted him."

Perisic moved to Bayern this summer, initially on loan with an option to buy, after Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery left the club.

Perisic playing for Bayern. Image: PA Images

He wasn't first choice, with the Bundesliga champions desperate to sign Leroy Sane in the summer, but Perisic isn't bothered by that, saying, "We are talking about Bayern, one of best five clubs in the world. They always have three, four or five possibilities for every position they're interested in. I was not the first.

"It happened very quickly. Everyone knows the story: after Sane got injured, the club contacted Inter and then my agent. I thought about it with my family for one night. Then I agreed."

After seeing Mourinho get fired and looking at the league positions of the two sides Perisic might feel missing out on the move to United might have done him a big favour.

Topics: Football News, Jose Mourinho, Ivan Perisic, Manchester United, Serie A, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Premier League, Transfer news, Bayern Munich, Inter, Bundesliga

Ryan Sidle

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