He could be playing for United instead of Liverpool had things turned out differently.

Manchester United could have signed one of Liverpool’s brightest young talents but his father blocked a potential move to Old Trafford.

United manager Erik ten Hag is currently preparing for pre-season and will be hoping for a better campaign than the last, which saw the Red Devils finish eighth in the Premier League.

Ten Hag’s side did end the season on a high with victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund giving the Dutchman reason for optimism in the upcoming campaign.

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United could have had another talented youngster on their books, Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, but missed the opportunity to sign him after his father intervened.

According to The Athletic, United made an approach for Bajcetic in 2020 when he was still at Celta Vigo.

United were in the market for a young centre-back and agreed a deal with the Spanish club, settling on a fee of approximately €250,000 (£211,000) for Bajcetic.

But the move faltered after United’s then-football negotiations manager Sam Barnett reportedly contacted Bajcetic’s father Srdjan and asked whether it would be possible to pull him out of the Spanish club.

Barnett had hoped that United would only have to pay a training compensation fee of around €100,000 (£84,000) instead, if Bajcetic left Vigo.

But this proved a costly error as Bajcetic’s father, not only an ex-Vigo player but also a club employee, ruled out the move.

Stefan Bajcetic could have played for Manchester United instead (Image: Getty)

Bajcetic would go on to join Liverpool that December for the initially proposed €250,000 fee, where he switched to playing in defensive midfield.

The Spain U21 international has since made 22 appearances for Liverpool’s senior team and was expected to play a key role last season.

However, a calf injury ruled him out for much of the first half of the season before an adductor problem disrupted the final months of the campaign.

He is now back to full fitness and set to play a full role in pre-season with Liverpool after being left out of Spain’s squad for the Olympic Games in Paris.