Cody Gakpo has revealed that he almost joined Manchester United in the summer after having multiple conversations with Erik ten Hag.
Gakpo was one of the most spoken-about players in the world in the transfer window just gone with Man Utd and Arsenal as well as multiple other Premier League clubs interested in him.
Talk of him joining compatriot Ten Hag at Old Trafford grew in the final month before the former Ajax boss and his new club opted to sign Antony instead.
Speaking to the Times, Gakpo confirmed that he held talks with Ten Hag and was close to signing for the Red Devils before their interest cooled as a result of Antony joining, leaving him disappointed.
“I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United,” the PSV man said.
“In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame, for me and my development, and because Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but also for PSV, because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.”
He was left with the choice to join Leeds, join Southampton or stay at PSV, and decided on deadline day to remain in the Netherlands. Looking back, he admits it was a stressful time.
“It (Man Utd’s interest) ended about a week before the end of the transfer window and in that week I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful period,” he added.
