Marouane Fellaini came close to leaving Manchester United last summer on a free transfer.
Paris Saint-Germain were one of the clubs interested in signing the midfielder last summer, but just days before his contract was set to expire, the Red Devils handed him a new deal.
After spending the first half of the season at Old Trafford, the 20-time English champions allowed him to complete a switch to Chinese club Shandong Luneng earlier this month.
Jose Mourinho wanted the Premier League outfit to hand the Belgium international a new deal, but after the former Chelsea manager was sacked in December, Fellaini saw his playing time restricted under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The 31-year-old has given an interview to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, where he was asked if he would have still been at Manchester United, if Mourinho was still in charge.
“I do not know. I tell you: in football there are opportunities that come and opportunities that go. I still had a contract with Man United, so I could have been there,” Fellaini said.
The ex-Everton man was one of the players who was criticised heavily by fans on social media and also by a section of the traditional media.
Regarding the media criticism he said, “If I’d listened to the media, I’d better have stopped when I was still with Standard [Liege]. That’s why I do not listen to it either.
“I have received a lot of criticism, but I accept that. I know it comes from the outside: within the clubs, within the group of players and within the national team, my qualities have always been respected. And that gave me great souvenirs. Again: every step I took was a good choice for me.”
