Bologna’s director of football Marco di Vaio has insisted that Marko Arnautovic turned down approaches from Man United in the summer, rather than them backing out of the chase due to backlash from fans.
He told Corriere Dello Sport: “We did great work with Marko. We’ve always highlighted how much we trust him.
“United didn’t retire from the race because of their fans, but only because Arnautovic understood how important he was for Bologna’s project. He behaved like a true champion, understanding what he meant to Bologna as a city and a club.
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“He’s a point of reference on and off the pitch. I was surprised by his involvement. He is helping young players. He has an ‘English’ approach. He always gives his all.”
It was reported a few months ago that the Red Devils stopped pursuing Arnautovic after fans brought up his controversial past and insisted they did not want him to be a part of the club.
The Austrian striker is having a brilliant season with Bologna and is currently the joint-top scorer with 7 goals from 6 appearances.