New Bayern Munich signing Dayot Upamecano has revealed how his parents convinced him to turn down Man Utd as a youngster.
The RB Leipzig centre-back, who was heavily linked with a number of British clubs including Man Utd and Liverpool, signed a five-year deal with Bayern in February.
The 22-year-old still has the German Cup final and two more Bundesliga matches to play at Leipzig before he can complete his move to Bayern.
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Upamecano, who has three caps for France, joined Leipzig from RB Salzburg in 2017 and has become one of the most highly-rated defenders in Europe.
And he has revealed how he could’ve moved to Man Utd at 17 but his parents eventually talked him out of the transfer.
Upamecano told The Athletic: “I was a young boy. I wanted to sign for them straight away. Manchester United! But then my parents took me aside and said: ‘Let’s think carefully about this’.
“We thought about it for a long time and then decided that going ‘etape par etape’ (step by step) was the best option for me. Everything Ralf [Rangnick] said came true.”
Former sporting director at Red Bull Salzburg and Leipzig, Ralf Rangnick, assured Upamecano that he would be able to taste first-team football straight away if he moved to feeder club Liefering, before eventually moving up the Red Bull chain.
Upamecano added: “Ralf was the most important coach for me. He’s a professor, a scientist of football, and he also cares about everything. He’s always there for you with advice on matters football and non-football, every single day.
“It’s not natural for a coach to be this involved with a squad of 25 players. I’ll never forget what he did for me, he was a key person in my career. I’m eternally grateful.”
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann will also join Bayern Munich at the end of the season and Upamecano is thrilled to be moving to the Allianz Arena with his current coach.
Upamecano continued: “I had no idea that he would also go there when I agreed to join Bayern. It’s funny how that’s worked out. Julian is an unbelievable manager. He’ll show you a video every day to help you develop.
“He doesn’t just tell you what you did wrong but gives you concrete advice to do it better. He really takes you to another level. For example, because of Julian, I have improved a lot in terms of opening the game from the defence with precise passes into the midfield, and he told me to use my dribbling abilities in order to create spaces going forward.
“He improves everyone, perhaps even the journalists he talks to.”
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