Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has revealed just how close he came to signing for Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
The Portugal international moved to United for £47m in the January transfer window, but things could have been different had Tottenham met Sporting Lisbon's initial valuation last year.
United had shown an interest in signing Fernandes last summer but were put off by Sporting's high valuation of the player and were 'irritated' by the incessant reports of a move in the Portuguese media.
Tottenham were another side to be put off by the fees involved in signing Fernandes last summer, but the Portuguese club eventually lowered their demands as United completed a move in January.
The 25-year-old says a few different sides wanted to sign him at the turn of the year but he insists he always had his heart set on a move to Old Trafford.
"The first club that was close to signing me was Tottenham," Fernandes said on Instagram Live.
"With Pochettino…But I don’t know maybe they thought the amount Sporting wanted was too much so in that moment Sporting decide they don’t want to sell.
"Tottenham came in the summer but Manchester [United] was in January. Maybe Tottenham came again in January but when I knew Manchester was interested I just wanted to talk to Manchester.
"Manchester was my dream team in England so I am happy because I have the chance to go to a team that I always [dreamed about] you know.
"At that time [last summer] it was Tottenham that was closer to me. There was other teams from France, one team from the Spanish league but for me when I talked the first team was Manchester."
