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Manchester United had a deal in place to sign former Paraguay star Salvador Cabanas before he was shot in the head.

Cabanas, who was crowned South American Footballer of the Year in 2007, was reportedly a major transfer target for Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

But the former striker's hopes of a dream move were dashed when he was involved in the shocking incident in January 2010.

Cabanas was shot in the head inside the Bar Bar nightclub in Mexico City and spent the next month in intensive care.

And he has now confirmed there was a deal agreed to take him to the Premier League.

(Image: Reuters)

(Image: Manchester United)

He said: "I had signed a pre-contract agreement for £1.3m for a transfer to Europe. They told me my destination would be Manchester United.

"Club America doubled my salary and gave me one apartment in Acapulco and another in Cancun to try and keep me at the club."

Cabanas was shot after an altercation in the nightclub bathroom and after brief stints with several South American clubs he eventually retired in 2014.

(Image: National Geographic)

The 38-year-old now sells bread in his hometown, the Paraguayan capital Asuncion, and told Telefuturo: "I am going to keep moving forward. I like the work, people recognise me and ask me about football. I have a lot of fun."

The ex-striker scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for the Paraguay national side and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

He was named as the South American Player of the Year in 2007 after finishing as the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores.