Bayern-bound Upamecano reveals he wanted to join Man Utd

The highly-rated Frenchman is set to make the switch from Red Bull Arena to the Allianz Arena at the end of the season.

Dayot Upamecano has disclosed he wanted to join Manchester United in the budding stages of his career but was persuades against the move by his parents.

Recognized as one of Europe’s hottest young properties, Upamecano rose to prominence in 2019/20 by leading RB Leipzig to a third-place Bundesliga finish and their first-ever Champions League semi-finals. He has continued to build on his reputation with fine performances this season.

The center-back was linked with Europe’s leading sides including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, with the latter eventually coming out on top in the transfer battle.

Back when he was 17, Upamecano had the chance to join Man United ended up at Austria at Red Bull Salzburg.

“I was a young boy. I wanted to sign for them straight away,” Upamecano revealed to The Athletic.

“Manchester United! But then my parents took me aside and said: ‘Let’s think carefully about this’.”

The then-RB Salzburg and Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick convinced him to join Liefering – a feeder club – before making his way into senior football.

“We thought about it for a long time and then decided that going ‘etape par etape’ (step by step) was the best option for me,” Upamecano added. “Everything Ralf said came true.

“I’ll never forget what he did for me, he was a key person in my career. I’m eternally grateful.”