Transfer Centre

Axel Witsel: 'I turned down Manchester United in 2018'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 22 August 2019

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel says that he rejected the chance to join Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in 2018.

Midfielder Axel Witsel has revealed that he turned down both Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in order to sign for Borussia Dortmund last year.

After deciding that he wished to leave China last summer, Witsel was not short of options before eventually penning a deal with the Bundesliga outfit.

However, the Belgium international has claimed that United and PSG also expressed an interest in his signature ahead of last season.

The 30-year-old told Goal.com: "First Michael Zorc approached me, then Lucien Favre called me. I also had other offers, maybe I could have gone to Paris or Manchester, but I did not want to wait. And I had the feeling that I was the first choice for Dortmund. It is important to feel good when you go to a new club.

"So after the talks with Zorc, Favre and Hans-Joachim Watzke, I decided to join BVB. Dortmund is a top club - and I really wanted to join a top European club. Maybe it was my last chance at 29 years old. It was the right decision."

Witsel has since made 46 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions.