I could have signed for Manchester United and I snubbed Liverpool for Galatasaray as they weren't good enough

07/08/2024 11:53 AM

Wesley Sneijder has lifted the lid on his failed move to the Premier League.

The 40-year-old – regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation – had two shots at a transfer to England.

Sneijder was one of the top players in the world during his time at Inter Milan, where he was part of their historic treble-winning squad from the 2009/10 season.

Just months after lifting the Champions League, he helped inspire the Netherlands to the World Cup final having scored five goals in South Africa.

A year later, iconic Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson almost prised Sneijder – Holland’s most capped player with 134 appearances – away from Italy in bringing him to Old Trafford.

But despite being keen to join, his representative has been blamed for the deal failing to materialise.

While Liverpool were then snubbed by Sneijder in 2013 in favour of Galatasaray after the Reds finished seventh in the Premier League.

Speaking to talkSPORT about why he never played in England, Sneijder said: “I had the possibility twice.

“The first one was for Man United, that was the thing my manager screwed up a little – my agent at the time.

“And later on it was Liverpool, and I decided Galatasaray over Liverpool.

“Just because Liverpool was in that time not the Liverpool that it is nowadays.”

Both United and Liverpool are now managed by Dutch managers in Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot respectively.

And Sneijder believes that United, who finished eighth in the table last season, are better suited to win the league over their rivals.

Giving his reasoning, he explained: “Because they have time to build something.

“The coach will stay and they are confident enough in the coach to build on something. So I believe they will be stronger this season than last season.”

Comparing the two managers, he remarked: “They are both good coaches.

“Slot did an amazing job with Feyenoord and at United, they are very confident with Ten Hag.

“He has extended his contract, also Ruud Van Nistelrooy, I just got the news that he will be involved.

“So I think they can do a big job because they have amazing players at United. There has to be a team, they need time.

“That is what it is looking like so far, they give time to build a team. I think this season they will go for some prizes.”

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