Gary Rowett says he opted against signing Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof when he was at Birmingham because he didn't think he was 'quite tough enough'

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Gary Rowett has admitted that he opted against signing Victor Lindelof when he was Birmingham City boss because he 'wasn't quite tough enough'.

Lindelof, who joined Manchester United for £31million from Benfica in the summer, made his Old Trafford debut in the Carabao Cup against Burton Albion on Wednesday night.

Rowett, who is now manager of Derby County, was speaking to Sky Sports on when he revealed he nearly signed the central defender.

Victor Lindelof made his Manchester United debut against Burton Albion on Wednesday

Derby manager Gary Rowett said he nearly signed Lindelof when he was at Birmingham City

'About two or three years ago when we first went into Birmingham, an agent called us and said Benfica were trying to get some of the younger players out to expose them to different levels,' Rowett said.

The Derby boss added, however, that when he and his backroom staff took a closer look they decided against pursuing a permanent move. 

He said: 'We had a look at him. It's ironic actually, I put it to the staff and some of them felt he wasn't quite tough enough.

Lindelof goes up for a header with Burton Albion's Luke Varney on Wednesday night

'Then suddenly he's being touted around at £20-30million so I think we made a mistake.

'He got straight back into the Benfica team very quickly and of course went from strength to strength.'