Cody Gakpo talks about not signing with Manchester United

It was a crazy summer transfer window for Manchester United. Before finally signing Antony from Ajax, who was Erik ten Hag’s priority signing for the right-wing position, the club was looking for other alternatives and got really close to signing one. Cody Gakpo was well aware of the Red Devils’ interest in him but felt disappointed after they left him waiting.

The 23-year-old player was on the English giants' shortlist all summer, but he maintained his focus on helping his team during the start of the season. His manager and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, even said that he was surprised by his maturity in not letting all the transfer rumors get in his head.

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Today, Gakpo had an interview with PSV Eindhoven’s media where he explained what happened this summer and why he stayed at the club:  “Manchester United reported at the start of the window, but quietly. We were kind of waiting for that. Then it comes closer and closer and the signals become more positive. Then you think: Ok, it could fall that way. Eventually, that option faded a bit, only last week”.

It was reported that some Premier League teams were interested in him during the final days of the window, but he didn’t like the idea of changing his destination on such short notice: “Until last week I thought I would go to Manchester United and then I had to choose another club in a week. Then it’s not nice for PSV and not for myself either because it felt rushed”.

Is he waiting for United?

The Italian reporter and transfer specialist, Fabrizio Romano reported that Southampton and Leeds United made late offers in the transfer window for Cody Gakpo. However, as the player said in his interview, he declined both of them because they felt rushed. It was also reported that the Netherlands’ national team coach Louis van Gaal advised him to stay at PSV to be fit for the World Cup in November.