Marko Arnautovic has revealed that Manchester United tried to sign him "several times" in the summer before he decided to stay at Bologna.
The 33-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag tried to bolster his forward line, with the former Stoke City man lined up as a potential option. Arnautovic scored an impressive 14 goals in 33 Serie A appearances last season - the most prolific season of his career so far.
It was a link which sparked plenty of criticism from supporters and pundits alike, with United reportedly pulling out of a deal for Arnautovic due to the backlash they received. However, his agent told a completely different story and previously claimed that the player also rejected the move to Old Trafford, something Arnautovic has now confirmed.
"Manchester United tried to sign me several times," the Austrian international told Laola1, via Metro. "And it was a difficult decision to stay in Italy because my family wanted to return to England.
"For me it’s clear that the Red Devils remain at the top of the universe. And Bologna, as a name, are not. But that’s fine. Here everything is calm, you have time for yourself and no stress. This is only good for me."
The Red Devils initially placed an offer of around £7.5million for Arnautovic, with Ten Hag desperate to bring in another forward in case Cristiano Ronaldo left the club. The Portuguese superstar wanted to depart the Red Devils in the summer after they failed to qualify for the Champions League but Ten Hag insisted he was not for sale.
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Ronaldo ended up staying with the club past deadline day but has since struggled for form, scoring just twice in all competitions so far this season. And it looks unlikely that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will add to his tally in a United shirt after he chose to slam the club, hierarchy and manager in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
Ten Hag and Ronaldo have endured a frosty relationship since the former was appointed back in May, with the former Real Madrid man admitting he doesn't have any respect for the United boss after he didn't bring him on in the Manchester derby back in October.
"He doesn't respect [me] the way I should deserve [to be respected]. But it is what it is. This is why probably, the game against Tottenham, I left," Ronaldo said. Venting his anger at the decision against Man City, Ronaldo continued: "Excuses, I see as excuses. I saw many things that, I don't want to criticise him. He can have [a] different opinion than me.
"They choose the players that they think is better for the team. I respect that but excuses all the time you know; the excuses have short legs, cannot excuse all the time, which is things that don't make sense. Okay, you don't put me against Manchester City because of respect of your career and you want to put me three minutes against Tottenham. It doesn’t make sense…"
