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Manchester United bid for me - Khedira

ESPN staff
September 3, 2013
ESPN FC: The deadline day winners and losers


Sami Khedira has confirmed that Real Madrid turned down Manchester United's £34 million offer for him before the transfer window closed.

Madrid, having signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a world-record fee, agreed to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal for £42.5 million on Monday, but United's attempts to sign Khedira ended in failure.

"The club turned down the offer and that was it," the 26-year-old told a press conference for the German national team in Munich on Tuesday. "We didn't really have the chance to discuss it. I had a longer chat with Carlo Ancelotti a few weeks ago and it was relatively clear to me that I'd stay at Real."

Khedira, 26, had joined Madrid in 2010 along with fellow Germany international Ozil, and during their three years at the Bernabeu the pair formed a solid partnership in midfield.

"Personally, I feel bad about Mesut's transfer," he said. "We are very, very good friends. His departure is a loss also from a sporting perspective. Mesut can make the difference."

However, he said the Arsenal move came as no surprise, adding: "I heard about this two or three days before Monday. Mesut had told me about it."

Ozil, 24, has revealed he felt he had lost Madrid's trust and Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff, also speaking at the press conference in Munich, said he was delighted that the player had moved to London.

"He has signed for an outstanding club with a great coach, who knows how to work with young players," Bierhoff said. "For his future sporting development, this is the right step. It is an important step for him, especially as it is a World Cup season."

Galatasaray sporting coordinator Bulunt Tulun also revealed United failed in a bid to sign Wesley Sneijder.

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