Wesley Sneijder: "I rejected Manchester United for Champions league football"

Wesley Sneijder has revealed that he turned down a chance to sign for Manchester United in the summer because he couldn’t let go of Champions League football.

Speaking ahead of the club’s UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal, he named the United manager Louis van Gaal as one of the best in the game but reiterated that he was happy at Galatasaray.

He said: 'Louis (Van Gaal) is one of the most intelligent men in football - and I knew of Manchester United's interest in the summer.

'It was flattering - but I am very happy in Turkey - and it is very hard to leave Champions League football.'

The 30year-old has been linked with the English giants for the past 3 seasons. The Dutchman had said last year that Inter Milan had earlier blocked his move to Old Trafford. He ended up signing for Galatasaray for one-third of the transfer fee he quoted.

“Manchester United had offered €20million [£17million] for me and the club rejected it,” he had said.

“I wanted to go to United but Inter didn’t let me. And then they asked me to lower my wage. I didn’t accept it.

“That’s why they put me in the stands. I have had problems with presidents at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid.”

The former Ajax midfielder played a big role for Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands side in the World Cup in Brazil this year and had earlier said he’d consider a move to England as it’d be difficult to say no to him.

Arsenal beat Galatasaray 4-1 with former Old Trafford favourite Danny Welbeck scoring a hat-trick.