Transfer news: Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao reveals he has no regrets over collapsed move to Manchester United

Portuguese defender claims he is already at the best club in the world and is determined to fight for his place in Carlo Ancelotti's side

Fabio Coentrao

Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has refused to dwell on his proposed deadline day switch to Manchester United after a loan move to the Premier League champions collapsed at the last minute.

Coentrao was linked with a move to Tottenham all summer as part of the Gareth Bale deal, but it emerged late on the final day of the transfer window that he was in talks with United over a season-long loan.

However he has now claimed he is happy to be at the “best club in the world” having remained at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he says he has no regrets over the failed move while admitting he is determined to fight for his place.

“There was the possibility of joining Manchester United, but I stayed at Real Madrid, and that’s what matters,” Coentrao told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.

“It would have been bad if I had to stay despite having the chance to move to a better club, but that didn’t happen as I already am at the best club in the world.

“I want to do better than I did last season, although I was at a very high level already. I want to show everyone that I deserve to be at Real Madrid.”

Real were keen to offload the Portuguese international off their increasing wage bill, having brought in Bale, Isco and Asier Illarramendi to bolster their squad while offloading Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon to Napoli.

Coentrao’s agent Jorge Mendes was keen on securing a move to Old Trafford for his client, but the deal depended on Real being able to bring in a replacement in the form of Granada left-back Guilherme Siqueira.

David Moyes made a late move for Coentrao after accepting defeat in his pursuit for England defender Leighton Baines, who remained with Everton, but by this time Siqueira had gone on-loan to Portuguese side Benfica.

At one point it seemed the deal would go through with Coentrao believed to be heading to United and Siqueira travelling back to Spain, but Benfica refused to let the 27-year-old Brazilian return after agreeing a deal for him.

Real officials accepted their decision and rather than try and push Granada to cancel the move, they chose to hold onto Coentrao meaning that any move away from La Liga was shelved for the time being.