Brazilian full-back Cicinho says he turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of Real Madrid.

Cicinho recently completed a £2.8 million move to Real but he has now admitted that United did intervene in a bid to hihack the deal.

“I got a call from United while I was in Italy arranging my EU passport,” he told the Daily Star.

“They flew me to Manchester and I met the coach and saw the training ground and the stadium.

“But we couldn’t reach an agreement owing to my desire to play for Real Madrid.”

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