Man Utd opted not to sign £113m attacker on several occasions

Manchester United opted not to sign Joao Felix after discussing the player on numerous occasions, according to a report.

The Athletic claim that United officials had the Portugal star on their radar, but finally decided not to sign the attacker because of concerns over his lack of physicality.

Felix though, who is the hot favourite to win the 2019 Golden Boy Award, quickly hit the ground running in pre-season after his £113million transfer from Benfica to Atletico Madrid.

The 19-year-old hit 15 goals and nine assists for Benfica last season and he has three goals and one assist so far as he adjusts to life in LaLiga.

The source claim that Felix’s transfer was discussed “many times” by Ed Woodward and Co, but their reservations over his physical presence and the fact they thought he may be a one-season wonder finally persuaded them to skip a move for the teenager.

 

 

 

The report also claims that there was a school of thought at Old Trafford that Alexis Sanchez would come good after lighting up training on numerous occasions.

United finally gave up on Sanchez though later in the summer and loaned him to Inter Milan, while Romelu Lukaku was also sold to the Serie A outfit.

It means United have been left thin on the ground in attack and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed he is looking for a striker in the January window.

Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic is believed to be a target for United, but the latest reports suggest the 33-year-old will have to lower his wage demands for a deal to be concluded in January.