The agent of Corinthians starlet Kerlon has revealed Manchester United came close to signing the youngster last season.

"His name is in the notebooks of every major European club," Mino Raiola told calciomercato.com. "Before his knee injury, we were close to Manchester United. Inter Milan were also interested and Juventus like him a lot.

"Whichever club wants him will have to pay around £15 million - a figure that I expect an English club capable of spending. Kerlon is a talent on the same level as Lionel Messi (of Barcelona) and will soon explode."