Manchester United finished the summer transfer window with six signings coming to Old Trafford, but Erik ten Hag was also pursuing his former striker Brian Brobbey before he moved to Ajax.
The 20-year-old had begun his professional career at the Eredivisie club, yet moved away at the beginning of last season to RB Leipzig.
However, after minimal game-time in the Bundesliga, he returned to Ten Hag's Dutch side on loan for the second half of the season.
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Following the end of the campaign, it seemed clear that a move back to the Amsterdam-based club made sense.
Ten Hag had a different idea, though, and attempted to convince his fellow Dutchman of a move to the Premier League.
At the time there was much controversy about whether Cristiano Ronaldo would stay at the club or not and the manager wanted to strengthen that number nine position.
Brobbey has revealed that he exchanged messages with his former boss, but declined his offer as he wanted to return to the Johan Cruyff Arena.
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"I absolutely wanted to come back to Ajax," Brobbey told Voetbal International. "Erik also wanted to work with me again.
"He texted me once to see if I was open to it.
"But I thanked him nicely and told him I wanted to go back to Ajax.
"My friends are here, Ajax’s playing style… it just wasn’t finished yet.
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"I first have to really succeed here as a striker in the Ajax first team. That’s also how the past six months have felt, when I played here on loan. After that I really had the feeling that I needed to come back."
However, despite this, the young forward hinted that an opportunity to move could come for him in the not so distant future.
In a similar fashion to Antony, who left the club for United on deadline day, Brobbey wants to provide Ajax with a hefty amount of money once he does leave the club.
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"Believe me, in a few years I will provide a nice transfer fee for Ajax and then the club will have made a nice profit," he said.
Antony left for €100 million, however, a percentage of that transfer fee has gone to Sao Paulo, who put a sell-on clause into his contract when he moved to the Netherlands in 2020.
The Brazilian could be making his debut for the Reds on Sunday, as Ten Hag's side host an unbeaten Arsenal team at Old Trafford.
Topics: Manchester United, Transfers, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Ajax, Erik Ten Hag
Cain Smith