Axel Witsel's agent has revealed his client chose to snub Manchester United in favour of becoming a key player at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
The Belgian was wanted by Jose Mourinho as the Portuguese looked to bolster his midfield options at Old Trafford this summer.
Witsel eventually ended up joining Dortmund after they activated his release clause, believed to be £20million, to bring him back to Europe from Chinese club club Tianjin Quanjian.
Paul Stefani, Witsel’s agent, has revealed his client opted for Germany because he didn't want to be just an option in Manchester.
He told Het Laatste Nieuws: ‘There were other candidates, Manchester United wanted him, as well as Napoli.
‘But I told Axel, “At Dortmund you are the number one, at Manchester you are one of many. And at Napoli too”.’