Spanish businessman Erik Alonso has defended his failed takeover bid of Derby County.

Alonso announced in early April that he and No Limits Sports had struck a deal to buy the Championship club.

But within six weeks the deal had collapsed.

Alonso told the Athletic: "It predominantly broke down because the EFL kept putting up more barriers.

"I think, in my opinion, and maybe I am wrong, that they see a 29-year-old kid would own one of the founders of the Football League and they did not want it,' said the ex-boxer.

"There were three conversations with the EFL," he added. "The first one was for proof of funds and to justify the movement between the banks. It had to be €75 million over a three-month period.

"Initially, the EFL said it was OK, but they wanted to know the source of the funds. I said no problem, I provided all the information about the businesses and sent it to the organisation.

"Then they (EFL) came back and told me it was not sufficient. They asked me to provide all information for all business dealings I may have in Indonesia and Spain, including tax returns and bills. I then provided all that information. I spoke to my lawyers and they told me what we had provided was already sufficient."