Manchester United are understood to have failed with a bid for Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadillo.

United scouts were posted to see the 17 year-old in action against Real Madrid last week, but he suffered a serious knee injury which has left him sidelined for six months.

Betis coach Pepe Mel has joked about Vadillo using his time out to learn English amid the United rumours.

And he revealed they have rejected an offer from abroad in recent days: "We've been handling offers for him, one particularly from a foreign team. Today he is worth €3 million, but when he completes 30 games his price will be €12 million and so on."