Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has revealed that Manchester United goal keeper David de Gea wanted him to join the Old Trafford club in 2013, but there was no official contact from the Premier League club.

The Spain midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2013, and De Gea’s public message to Alcantara created a lot of speculation at that time.

After Spain won the Under 21 European Championship beating Italy 4-2 in the final, De Gea left a message on Thiago’s hat-trick ball – ‘Nos Vemos en Manchester’ translating to ‘See you in Manchester’.

However, Thiago reveals that United never made any formal approach for him during that time.

“There was never any firm proposal,” Thiago said in an interview with Daily Mail. ‘David de Gea wanted me to join. He wrote a message on my match ball after we’d beaten Italy in the final. But I’d have done the same with him.”

The Munich midfielder has ushered heaps of praise on De Gea, saying the United goal keeper is one of the greatest keepers in the world.

He added: “He is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world. You always want to play with the best. But it was always going to be Munich.”

Thiago adds that Premier League is an amazing league, and probably the best league in the world, but he is very happy in Bayern, and has no intentions of leaving the German giants any time soon.

It’s an excellent interview, where he touched on various topics like the influence of Pep Guardiola on his career, the greatness of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, and his idol Ronaldinho.