Sporting Lisbon vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha has revealed that Manchester United paid over the odds for midfielder Bruno Fernandes last month.
The attacking midfield star, who is 25, joined United for a fee worth up to £67.6million, ending long-term speculation about his future.
Fernandes, who has so far made one appearance for the Old Trafford club, was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the past, with Spurs keen the Portugal international last summer.
Had Sporting reduced their asking price for the midfielder and accepted Spurs' offer then a deal to sign Fernandes would have been completed.
Instead, Sporting decided to knock back any interest Spurs had, deciding to keep the midfielder.
Now, though, Salgado Zenha has confirmed that United paid over the odds to sign the midfield architect last month.
Speaking to Record, Salgado Zenha said: "I realised in the negotiations that Manchester United was convinced that we were going to give in and that for 50 million euros he was doing the deal. Well, they ended up paying €65million.
"They were wrong and ended up paying what we wanted. We went to get 20 million more than if we had sold four months ago."
It was recently revealed by Sporting's president, Bruno Varandas, that the Portuguese club had little option but to cash in on Fernandes last month as they were desperate to bolster their bank balance.
He said: "There are non-negotiable players. Bruno Fernandes is the proof. And it was an obligation.
"We wouldn't be able to reach €115million without [selling] him. With the January sale, for €63million practically certain, it was shown that we did well to resist and not to accept the proposal of Tottenham."
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