'That’s partly up to me' - Ex-Tottenham star Toby Alderweireld explains failed move to Manchester United

Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed that he nearly signed for Manchester United in 2018, but insisted he does not "regret anything" despite the failed move.

Alderweireld, who currently plays for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, spent six years at Tottenham from 2015 to 2021. The 33-year-old made 174 appearances for the North London club and was part of the Spurs side that narrowly missed out on winning the Champions League in 2019 - losing 2-0 to Liverpool in the final.

Yet things could have been very different for the Belgian international. In the wake of his national side's run to the semi-finals in the 2018 World Cup, Alderweireld was heavily linked to a move to United, when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Old Trafford club.

The Portuguese coach would eventually manage Alderweireld during his spell at Tottenham and now the centre-back has lifted the lid on his failed move to United four years ago.

Speaking to Sport/Voetbalmagazine (via Sport Witness), he said: “People wrongly think that players have a lot to say in transfers. We are usually the last to be informed about a potential deal. That’s just the reality. After the World Cup in Russia, I found out what was going on with Manchester United. That’s partly up to me.

“I always told my agent that I wanted to focus purely on football. I told him: ‘If a club comes, you can arrange everything and I will hear it.’ In the case of Manchester United, should I have been more committed? No, I don’t regret anything.

“My best years as a footballer have been with Tottenham. I have so much respect for that club that it would be strange to say now that I should have forced my transfer to Manchester United.”