Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted his side lost out to Manchester United in the battle to sign France international midfielder Paul Pogba.
Speaking to Radio Montecarlo via (the Daily Mirror), the legendary playmaker told his former France teammate Christophe Dugarry that his club had held talks with Pogba’s representatives, but failed to push the deal through.
“He could have come,” Zidane said. “There were conversations to try and sign him but it didn’t go ahead.”
Paul Pogba joined Manchester United earlier this year for a world-record £89m fee on a 5-year contract with an option to extend for a further year.
Real Madrid were reportedly unwilling to meet Juventus’ asking price in the summer transfer window, which made things for United very easy.
The European champions are not used to missing out on the best players in the world when they’re actively trying to secure their signatures, but it seems like they were outbid by the English giants and it could be a sign of things to come given the increased spending power of English clubs.