Sporting Lisbon vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha has revealed that Manchester United paid over the odds for midfielder Bruno Fernandes last month.
Speaking to Record, Salgado Zenha said: "I realised in the negotiations that Manchester United was convinced that we were going to give in and that for 50 million euros he was doing the deal. Well, they ended up paying €65million.
"They were wrong and ended up paying what we wanted. We went to get 20 million more than if we had sold four months ago."
It was recently revealed by Sporting's president, Bruno Varandas, that the Portuguese club had little option but to cash in on Fernandes last month as they were desperate to bolster their bank balance.
He said: "There are non-negotiable players. Bruno Fernandes is the proof. And it was an obligation.
"We wouldn't be able to reach €115million without [selling] him. With the January sale, for €63million practically certain, it was shown that we did well to resist and not to accept the proposal of Tottenham."