Kieran Trippier confirms Manchester United wanted him before Newcastle move

Kieran Trippier has confirmed that Manchester United were interested in signing him from Atletico Madrid last summer, but the move never materialised before his switch to Newcastle in January.

There was much speculation that the right-back would return to the Premier League with a big move to Old Trafford a year ago after he had won La Liga with Atletico.

Nothing came of it, despite it being one of the transfer sagas of the summer, but Trippier did make a somewhat surprising move to St James’ Park in January, swapping a Champions League team for a relegation battle.

The England full-back has confirmed that the Red Devils showed an interest in him, and he even agreed with his boss Diego Simeone that he could leave, but it seems that Manchester United never quite pulled the trigger.

‘Yes they were,’ Trippier told the Mirror on Manchester United being interested in him. ‘There were a couple of clubs. Me and the manager had a chat at the start of the season and agreed if an opportunity came up I might go.

‘At the start of the season I had a couple of family problems. To be fair they didn’t want to come back. It didn’t happen, so I carried on. I am not one to throw my toys out of the pram when it didn’t happen.

‘I didn’t have to leave Madrid. I want to make that clear. I loved it there and it was a successful time. I had a few options as well. But for my family it was important.’

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Trippier wanted to return to the north of England, which limited his options in the Premier League, but his relationship