James Rodriguez, the Colombian star on everyone's lips this summer, could have been plying his trade at Old Trafford - had Manchester United not opted to sign Portuguese flop Bebe instead.

James has is the current World Cup leading goalscorer, despite not playing as as out-and-out striker, with five goals to his name already, scoring in every one of Colombia's matches thus far.

The Guardian report that the talented playmaker could have been signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for as little as £5million as a teenager, while playing in Argentina for Club Atletico Banfield.

Top 10 goals of the 2014 World Cup 10 show all Top 10 goals of the 2014 World Cup 1/10 Robin van Persie v Spain The goal that spawned a million social media memes. The Dutch striker displayed s a truly stunning piece of athleticism. Daley Blind launched a crossfield pass from the halfway line, and the Dutch striker somehow arched his back to lob Spanish keeper Iker Casillas with a diving header from the penalty spot. A piece of genius from the Dutchman, and one that ended with his face on the grass as he dived along the turf. Getty 2/10 Arjen Robben v Spain The Bayern Munich winger does not like being upstaged and after his teammate had scored such a stunning header, Robben took matters into his own hands. Receiving a pass from Daley Blind, he took the ball down with a Dennis Bergkamp-esque touch, turned inside Sergio Ramos and pinged a shot into the Spanish net. Getty 3/10 Claudio Marchisio v England A beautifully worked training ground routine that left England utterly bewildered. An Italian corner was played short to Andrea Pirlo who with customary cool stepped over the ball, taking Daniel Sturridge with him. Enter Marchisio in space 25 yards out. The Italian sized up the opportunity and bulleted a low shot into the bottom corner to put the Italians ahead. Getty 4/10 Tim Cahill v Netherlands A work of art – a pinpoint cross and the sweetest volley you’ll ever see, in off the bar for extra effect. GETTY 5/10 Lionel Messi v Iran Argentina were deep in stoppage time against minnows Iran and desperate for a winner. Cue Lionel Messi to step forward and bullet an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner. Getty 6/10 Jermaine Jones v Portugal You’re unlikely to see a ball hit any harder or sweeter than Jones’s bullet against Portugal. The ball was cleared to the midfielder from a USA corner, and he nonchalantly drifted inside and walloped one past Beto to level the match. GETTY 7/10 James Rodriguez v Japan That man again – Rodriguez received the ball 30 yards out, beat the covering the defender with a drop of the shoulder and then dinked a cheeky little lob over the advancing keeper. Beautiful. GETTY 8/10 Xherdan Shaqiri v Honduras The Bayern Munich man picked the ball up on the edge of the box, cut inside and arrowed a peach of a strike into the top corner. The goalie barely moved as the ball cannoned in off the woodwork. The standout goal in a beautifully-crafted hat-trick. GETTY 9/10 James Rodriguez v Uruguay A stunning piece of technique as the Colombian golden boy added to his tournament collection of sumptuous goals. GETTY 10/10 David Luiz v Colombia David Luiz struck a vicious free-kick to send hosts Brazil through to the semi-finals of the World Cup. GETTY 1/10 Robin van Persie v Spain The goal that spawned a million social media memes. The Dutch striker displayed s a truly stunning piece of athleticism. Daley Blind launched a crossfield pass from the halfway line, and the Dutch striker somehow arched his back to lob Spanish keeper Iker Casillas with a diving header from the penalty spot. A piece of genius from the Dutchman, and one that ended with his face on the grass as he dived along the turf. Getty 2/10 Arjen Robben v Spain The Bayern Munich winger does not like being upstaged and after his teammate had scored such a stunning header, Robben took matters into his own hands. Receiving a pass from Daley Blind, he took the ball down with a Dennis Bergkamp-esque touch, turned inside Sergio Ramos and pinged a shot into the Spanish net. Getty 3/10 Claudio Marchisio v England A beautifully worked training ground routine that left England utterly bewildered. An Italian corner was played short to Andrea Pirlo who with customary cool stepped over the ball, taking Daniel Sturridge with him. Enter Marchisio in space 25 yards out. The Italian sized up the opportunity and bulleted a low shot into the bottom corner to put the Italians ahead. Getty 4/10 Tim Cahill v Netherlands A work of art – a pinpoint cross and the sweetest volley you’ll ever see, in off the bar for extra effect. GETTY 5/10 Lionel Messi v Iran Argentina were deep in stoppage time against minnows Iran and desperate for a winner. Cue Lionel Messi to step forward and bullet an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner. Getty 6/10 Jermaine Jones v Portugal You’re unlikely to see a ball hit any harder or sweeter than Jones’s bullet against Portugal. The ball was cleared to the midfielder from a USA corner, and he nonchalantly drifted inside and walloped one past Beto to level the match. GETTY 7/10 James Rodriguez v Japan That man again – Rodriguez received the ball 30 yards out, beat the covering the defender with a drop of the shoulder and then dinked a cheeky little lob over the advancing keeper. Beautiful. GETTY 8/10 Xherdan Shaqiri v Honduras The Bayern Munich man picked the ball up on the edge of the box, cut inside and arrowed a peach of a strike into the top corner. The goalie barely moved as the ball cannoned in off the woodwork. The standout goal in a beautifully-crafted hat-trick. GETTY 9/10 James Rodriguez v Uruguay A stunning piece of technique as the Colombian golden boy added to his tournament collection of sumptuous goals. GETTY 10/10 David Luiz v Colombia David Luiz struck a vicious free-kick to send hosts Brazil through to the semi-finals of the World Cup. GETTY

But while United were securing the services of strker Javier Hernandez, James' agents received no response from the Premier League giants, who pursued other options instead - most notably Bebe, who was signed for £7.4million.

Since then, James moved to Porto - where he won the Europa League under then boss Andre Villas-Boas - before his £38.5million move to Monaco last summer.

His performances have seen him linked with a summer switch to the Premier League, with Tottenham AND Manchester United believed to be interested, but it appears that the Old Trafford club have missed their opportunity, with the Colombian eyeing a move to La Liga, and in particular, to Real Madrid.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, he said: "I would love to play in Spain," said James. "It would be a dream to play there - it is the best league in the world.

"I prefer Madrid to Barcelona."