‘Manchester City wanted him’: Guardiola could have signed £40m target for just £2m in 2016

Follow us on Google Discover

Manchester City have been keen on Dayot Upamecano since 2016 and missed out when the France international joined Red Bull Salzburg for a bargain £2 million, sporting director Christoph Freund told Kicker.

Pep Guardiola might have stumbled across a defensive partnership with Premier League-winning potential in Ruben Dias and John Stones, but do not assume that City will not be in the mix when the battle for Upamecano’s signature becomes an all-out war next summer.

It is no secret that arguably Europe’s most coveted centre-back has a £40 million release clause in his RB Leipzig contract.

According to Goal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are just some of the clubs jostling for Upamecano’s sought-after signature.

And Freud will not be surprised to see Guardiola’s side at the front of the queue, having beaten City to the 22-year-old’s signature when he moved to Austria five years ago.

“Our scouts first became aware of ‘Upa’ during international matches for the French U-17 national team. For us, it’s about being quick. Get as much detailed information as possible, watch many videos and get to know the boy,” said Freud, whose Salzburg side also unearthed such diamonds as Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino.

“And all of this before the big clubs get serious. In the case of ‘Upa’, we made an effort very quickly and also faced a lot of competition. Bayern Munich and Manchester City wanted him.

“For a boy from France, Salzburg was probably not the dream destination. But we showed him what we could offer him, for example regular game time.

“We were able to assure him that Salzburg was the best choice before he could take the next step at Manchester City or Bayern or Leipzig.”

If Upamecano the player was born in Salzburg, he has been made in Leipzig.

Thanks to the supreme coaching of Julian Nagelsmann, Salzburg’s Bundesliga-based sister club have transformed the three-time France international into European football’s next superstar defender.