Manchester City new boy Ilkay Gundogan revealed he was “close” to signing for rivals United last year.

The German midfielder joined Pep Guardiola’s Etihad revolution for £20million this summer, but if things had been different he could have been lining up for Jose Mourinho this season.

“Maybe last year it was close,” Gundogan told Sport360, “but not everything happened like I wanted it to. Maybe it was not the right moment and at the end we decided to stay and renew my contract, to extend for one more year.

“We always had the conversation with Dortmund and agreed that if I left, I will not leave for free, for zero. So I renewed my contract and now this year everyone is lucky and happy how it came to an end.”

Gundogan also revealed he sought the advice of former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp ahead of his move to England.

He said: “Of course I talked to Klopp. I asked if I would fit in the Premier League and he said ‘definitely, definitely yes’. He wishes me the best and me also for him.

"He wishes me the best and me also for him. The Premier League is a really, really big competition."