Zion Suzuki turned down a summer transfer to Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
Zion Suzuki has confirmed he turned down the chance to sign for Manchester United this summer.
The 21-year-old Japan international was identified by Erik ten Hag as a potential replacement for Dean Henderson as the club’s No.2 to £50million summer signingAndre Onana.
Suzuki, however, has revealed he was unwilling to play second fiddle to the former Inter shot stopper and opted instead to continue his development at Belgiuan club Sint-Truiden who he joined in the summer.
‘My dream is to play in the English Premier League,’ Suzuki told the Japanese Soccer Digest Web.
‘It is true that I have received an offer from Manchester United, but United have acquired Onana this season, so I want to play at a level where I can play.
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‘Even if I can’t go there now, I definitely want to go there in a few years. To make progress step by step, I decided to move to Belgium.’
After missing out on the signing of Suzuki, United instead turned their focus to securing the services of Altay Bayindir who is still waiting to make his club debut.
Onana, meanwhile, has made a mixed start to his United career with the lowlight coming in the recent Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich where he was badly at fault for Leroy Sane’s opening goal.
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‘It is difficult. We started very good but after my mistake we lost control of the game,’ Onana told TNT Sport.
‘It is frustrating for us, for me especially because I am the one who let the team down.
‘The team was good, we didn’t win this game because of me. we have to move forward. this is what it is like as a goalkeeper.’
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