Rondon: I was very close to joining Reds in January
SALOMON Rondon says he was ‘very close’ to joining United in the January transfer window, but saw a move blocked by his Chinese Super League club.
The Reds were keen to sign a new physical option up front earlier this year but saw an initial move for Norway international Erling Haaland rejected, before a bid for his compatriot Joshua King was also turned down on deadline day.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eventually made the move to sign Odion Ighalo on loan from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, but Rondon says he was another striker from the Chinese Super League they looked at.
The former Newcastle forward insists he was close to an Old Trafford move but says his club Dalian Professional - had no intention of selling their prize asset.
“The chance was very close to come back to England,” he said.
“The owner of my club said that they paid a lot for me, he wanted me to stay and didn’t want to let me go. He said: ‘It’s not in our minds to let you go.’
“I talked to Rafa and then they chose another player, it finished and I didn’t have any chance to go.
“I stayed and I take that experience with me in my life, in my career and I have to wait because I’ve signed for two years and if I stay for two years it doesn’t matter for me.
“My agents didn’t say too much. They said they’d call me if they had some news but the opportunity to go was really, really close and the decisions are with the owners.
“It was a good opportunity for me to come back to Europe but I stayed in China and then we will see what happens in the future.
“I enjoyed England a lot, I followed the Premier League a lot, my children now speak better English than me!”