Sporting director reveals £85 million Manchester United midfield bid rejection

Former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has explained that they once turned down an £85 million bid from Manchester United.

Manchester United, between the years of 2017 and 2020, were continuously linked with then-Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić.

The Serbian international was seen by many as the ideal partner and/or replacement for Paul Pogba under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. However, the transfer never materialised.

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Reports widely stated at the time that in 2018 and 2019, United had reached a verbal agreement with the player, but the transfer to Old Trafford from the Serie A never came to fruition.

And now, former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has revealed that Lazio once turned down a bid of over £85 million from United for Milinković-Savić.

“A lot of things have been said about Milinkovic-Savic that are not true, from his departure at zero to the fact that he didn’t want to stay, the only thing that is true is that Lotito turned down a very important offer, over €100m, from AC Milan and Manchester United,” Tare told TVPlay.

“I don’t want to judge the non-sale, even though there was a question of balance, but Lotito’s choices were to keep a strong team and respect the promises made to the coach.

“Let’s not forget that in the year of the Covid, Lazio was on the verge of winning the Scudetto.”

Although Tare did not mention when this bid occurred, it will have been a few years ago, most likely during 2018 or 2019, when United reportedly had terms agreed with the player.

Milinković-Savić now plays for Saudi Pro League club AL Hilal after signing for the side in 2023.