Barcelona were never interested in competing with Manchester United for Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

That's the claim of Mundo Deportivo, where reporter Francesc Aguilar insists Barca were never in the frame for the Portugal international.

Indeed, Aguilar says Barca were used by Sporting and Fernandes' agent Jorge Mendes to threaten the deal and drive up the price United were to pay.

United are now set to pay €60m for Fernandes plus a further €20m in bonuses to bring Fernandes to England before Friday's deadline.

The deal between Sporting and United has dragged on throughout January as the two clubs struggled to agree on the player's valuation.