Manchester United management insist James Rodriguez's move to Bayern Munich was no surprise to them.

James, who had long been linked with United, signed for Bayern yesterday on a two-year loan from Real Madrid.

The Sunday World says Old Trafford insiders have insisted Colombian star Rodriguez was not on their list of possible summer signings, even though the player appeared to be keen to make the move to Manchester.

While United were offered the chance to sign Rodriguez earlier this summer and the player's agent Jorge Mendes was promoting a move to Manchester, he has instead found a route out of Real Madrid via Munich.

Real Madrid have been trying to off-load Rodriguez all summer, with his omission from their entire squad for the Champions League final against Juventus last month evidence that his time at the club as coming to an end, three years after his €80m move from Monaco.