Manchester United target and Basel wonderkid Dimitri Oberlin reveals why he turned down the Premier League giants
Cameroon-born Switzerland Under-21 international was approached by United three years ago, when aged just 17
MANCHESTER UNITED target and Basel wonderkid Dimitri Oberlin has revealed why he turned down the Old Trafford outfit.
The Cameroon-born Switzerland Under-21 international, 20, was approached by United three years ago, when he was just 17-years-old.
However, rather than take the move the majority of youngsters would have taken, Oberlin revealed he had rejected the club.
Oberlin claimed he did not want to battle his way through the youth ranks at Old Trafford and would be better served gaining more senior first-team football.
The then-teenager opted instead to join RB Salzburg from FC Zurich in order to continue his progression.
Three years on from his decision, Oberlin said: "Yes, they [United] had been watching me - the transfer almost happened.
"In the end I decided otherwise. My parents had allowed me to transfer, but I did not.
"I would have started at the Under-18s, the way into the first team would have been far.
"The competition would have been massive."
Oberlin - now a target for European giants Juventus and Real Madrid - is currently on loan at Basel from RB Salzburg.
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He has netted five times in just ten games this season, as Basel have stunned Benfica and CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
The Swiss side are currently second in Group A, behind only United - despite sitting just third in their domestic league.
Oberlin has been integral to both of Basel's European wins too, netting a brace in the 5-0 drubbing of Benfica, before scoring in the 2-0 win away to CSKA.
