Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann has revealed he was “very, very, very close” to leaving the club in the summer and joining Manchester United.
Bachmann has been with the Hornets since signing on a free transfer from Stoke’s U21 side in July 2017.
He was a key player in their return to the Premier League in the 2020/21 season but endured a disappointing campaign last year as Ben Foster was preferred as the number one by several Hornets managers.
That saw him heavily linked with a move away in the January transfer window and it continued into the summer, when Manchester United were named as suitors.
They were looking to add a back up to David de Gea to their squad but ultimately decided to sign Martin Dubravka from Newcastle United.
That left Bachmann at Watford, where he has since established himself as the number one again after Ben Foster left Vicarage Road in the summer.
He’s since started all of their Championship games this season, keeping nine clean sheets in 22 games so far as they reached fifth in the table before the World Cup break.
Staying with the Hornets has proven to be a good move for him, but he admits things were nearly done with Manchester United.
“It was very, very, very, very close. Really very, very close,” he told Heute, when asked about the United rumours.
“In the end, I’m glad things turned out the way they are. The new coach really wanted to keep me. I’m happy, I’m a top performer at Watford now.”
