Dusan Tadic almost joined Manchester United in 2014, but opted to join Southampton in order to work with Ronald Koeman, his father has revealed.
The Serbian playmaker had impressed for four seasons in the Eredivisie for Groningen and FC Twente, before joining Southampton in the summer of 2014. He went on to score 24 times and register 35 assists in 162 appearances for the Saints before moving to Ajax for just £10m in 2018.
Since then, he has scored a remarkable 48 goals with 41 assists for last season's Champions League semi-finalists in just 84 appearances.
Costing just £28m across his career, Tadic is the type of bargain player any big club would seek to find and develop. Now, in an interview with Voetbal International, the player's father says United were close to bringing him to the Premier League instead of Southampton.
The reason for Tadic's decision came down to the chance to work with Ronald Koeman at St Mary's, rather than Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.
“Dusan could go to Manchester United and Southampton. I wanted him to go to Manchester, to Louis van Gaal. But Dusan wanted to go to Ronald Koeman. We couldn't work it out together,” Petar Tadic said.
“Manchester United have always been a top club. I was a fan of Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes… They have always had top players. Even now things are going less well, I still love Manchester United.
“That's why I was really mad at Dusan. We talked about it all evening, but in the end, Dusan said he would choose Southampton anyway. “
mzeereal
0
Everyone knows tadic except for u You’ve probably been living under a rock
just with you bro.. under the water
Tupbcinrs
0
tell me what turn great for him at Southampton, he would have win a FA Cup, EFL, Community Shield and Europa League if he chose Man Utd then.
He would have been in the bench
Tupbcinrs
0
No one knows him anymore😂.. All the best for him
Everyone knows tadic except for u You’ve probably been living under a rock
A_YY
0
And it turned out great for him!!
great for him in Holland...not in England dude
kekcdeilpu
1
brave decision..he could have been famous due to the over marketing of utd but he chose his passion..wow!
Benfoster1
0
We're not interested in this news
ommarri12
0
tell me what turn great for him at Southampton, he would have win a FA Cup, EFL, Community Shield and Europa League if he chose Man Utd then.
He's playing the best football of his life
KingNeyo
0
And it turned out great for him!!
tell me what turn great for him at Southampton, he would have win a FA Cup, EFL, Community Shield and Europa League if he chose Man Utd then.
ARVENKOMALA
4
I trust Manchester United will win EFL
vira
1
every player in the world was close to join Manchester United
Soabprtyz
0
And it turned out great for him!!
Really great bro.... Now he's competing for balloon d'or
rizabcnrt
0
now regret...
Coadlpr
1
U a not even good for your team you deserve league 1 there as a substitute
Coadlpr
1
Stay there bro we don't need such
liuainopr
0
he is not primer league player
mzeereal
2
No one knows him anymore😂.. All the best for him
Woeadipsy
0
how did he turned out great for him dude tadic was flop in Southampton before he make a move too Ajax and found out his best form in eredivisie
ommarri12
4
And it turned out great for him!!