Ed Woodward has confirmed Ryan Giggs advised Manchester United to sign Daniel James.
James, 21, has been one bright spark at Old Trafford this season following his move from Swansea.
The Wales international crossed for Marcus Rashford's opener against Liverpool on Sunday as United turned in a much improved performance.
Speaking to the United We Stand fanzine, Woodward was asked if it was true Giggs described James to his former club as "quick as f***".
Woodward added: "Well, that's accurate, but we got a lot more than that."
Leeds had hoped to sign James before his move to United, but Woodward has confirmed he was on the club's radar for some time.
"He was a played flagged as 'YA' - a young player who could be 'A-level,' who we'd been tracking for three years," Woodward added.
"The academy scouts handed his file over to the scouts who look at the first team when Dan became a first-team player (at Swansea).
"He was on our radar well before the deal for him to go to Leeds fell through."
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for the youngster, who received some rough treatment against Liverpool on Sunday.
He said: "Dan is brave, he gets kicked, gets up again, gets kicked, gets up again, and he must be a nightmare to play against when he gets this type of space.
"The boy has been a delight to work with."
