Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has revealed just how close he was to joining Manchester United seven years ago.

Then with Bayern Munich, Kroos, 30, was on the verge of joining United in 2013 but the Red Devils pulled the plug - and the Germany international then opted to joined Real 12 months later.

Speaking to The Athletic, he explained: “David Moyes had come to see me and the contract had basically been done but then Moyes was fired and Louis van Gaal came in, which complicated matters.

"Louis (van Gaal) wanted time to build his own project. I didn't hear anything from United for a while and started having doubts.

"Then the World Cup started and Carlo Ancelotti called. And that was it."