‘I am surprised’ – Star player rejected a move to Old Trafford

Croatia World Cup hero Ivan Perisic was heavily linked with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United last summer, but a deal couldn’t materialise before the closure of the transfer window.

However, speaking recently about the player, Mourinho said he ‘does not know why’ the Inter Milan forward ignored the chance to move to Old Trafford last year.

Perisic was keenly chased by the red devils’ last summer as they targeted a talented winger to feed Romelu Lukaku with the ball from the left.

The Croatia international was open to joining Manchester United, but his side were demanding around £50M for his signature and he went ahead to sign a new long-term deal with the Italian club when United failed to meet Inter’s valuation.

Ivan was on the pitch when Croatia clashed with France in the World Cup final on Sunday, but he couldn’t stop their European counterparts from winning the gold medal.

But speaking before the game that ended 4-2, United boss Jose Mourinho admitted he cannot fathom why Ivan rejected the chance to move to the Theater of Dreams.

‘I don’t know why [Ivan] did not come to Manchester [United] when I wanted him.’ Mourinho said.

United’s failure to get the player’s signature made them picked Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January, and they were able to bring the Chilean to the Theater of Dreams successfully before the closure of the winter window.