Yahoo Sports ‘I almost went to United’Cody Gakpo sheds more light on missing out on Man United move – report
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has shed more light on why he did not join Manchester United.
Gakpo revealed in a previous interview that United’s former manager Erik ten Hag contacted him about a move to the club.
United were linked with the Netherlands international in 2022, but they opted to sign Antony, who had worked with Ten Hag at Ajax.
The Red Devils were touted to make a move for him in January 2023, but that did not happen. He eventually joined arch-rivals Liverpool.
Gakpo has become a vital player for Liverpool and has played a massive role in their push for the quadruple this season.
He has chipped in with 14 goals and five assists across all competitions this term, more than Antony’s total goal contributions for United.
Antony will spend the rest of this season on loan with Real Betis, while Gakpo will continue his starring role for Liverpool.
Gakpo revealed that he had almost joined Man United, but the club withdrew their interest in him.
He told TNT Sports: “In the summer of 2022, I was almost planning to leave, and then I almost went to United.”
“In the end, they didn’t want me anymore – things happened and everything. Then I could stay here [at PSV Eindhoven] or go to two other clubs.
“Then I just prayed about it and found the answer in some goals that I scored.
“If I scored a hat-trick, I should stay. It was with the first hat-trick of my career, so I couldn’t get a clearer answer. That guided me a lot.
“Besides that, faith guides me a lot and also my parents guide me a lot in everything I do, so they are the two guiding factors in my life.”
Gakpo would have struggled under Ruben Amorim
While Gakpo could have been a better signing for Man United than Antony, he may have struggled to play as a number 10 or striker under manager Ruben Amorim.
The Dutch forward plays best as a left winger, cutting in with his right foot to score or pick out a teammate with a cross.
He mainly played as a centre-forward under former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp but has flourished since being switched to the left flank.
United’s decision not to sign him initially looked questionable but has probably proven to be the correct move.
Stats from transfermarkt.com.
Article written by Henry Thornton .
