'I discovered Manchester United wanted to sign me in a chip shop and thought it was a prank'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Alexander Buttner has admitted he was in a local chip shop with a group of friends when he discovered Manchester United wanted to sign him, confessing that he thought it was a prank.

Following a series of impressive performances for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, the defender started to attract interest from several English clubs, such as QPR and Southampton.

However, against all odds, he sealed a move to Old Trafford in August 2012, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. The now 34-year-old, who plays for De Graafschap, thought the whole situation was a prank, so much so that he almost put the phone down on his agent, who was informing him of United's interest in getting a deal over the line.

They signed him for £5million and he made a total 28 appearances for the club, chipping in with two goals and three assists, before leaving in 2014. READ MORE: United should listen to Bruno Fernandes' transfer advice READ MORE: Cameroon issue injury update on United goalkeeper Andre Onana More than a decade on from his arrival at Old Trafford, the former Netherlands Under-21 international has opened up about the moment he learnt of United's interest, revealing he was in a chip shop with a group of friends.