• Premier League

Moyes switch halted my United move - Garay

ESPN staff
October 14, 2013
Garay holds off Chelsea's Fernando Torres during May's Europa League final © Getty Images
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Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay has claimed he was set to sign for Manchester United last summer, until David Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford.

Argentine defender Garay was persistently linked with a move to the Premier League champions in the first half of 2013, with his suspicion that a deal would have been signed were it not for a change of manager at United an intriguing twist on the transfer story.

"I believed I was going to join Manchester United in the summer and the deal was nearly closed, but finally Benfica did not accept the offer," Garay said.

"I believe the exit of Ferguson has influenced the deal. Moyes did not believe in me as much but that's not a problem.

"I am happy at Benfica and have a lot of dreams and ambitions for this season. Now I only think about the present which is Benfica but it's never possible to discard anything in the future."

Barcelona have also been linked with a move for Garay in recent months and he may well be the subject of transfer speculation once again in the run-up to the January transfer window.

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