Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can has ruled out any potential switch to English giants Manchester United because of his close links with their rivals Liverpool.
Can spent four seasons at Anfield before moving to Italian heavyweights Juventus on a free transfer. Due to packed midfield in Turin, Can saw first team chances hard to come by and forced through a move to Germany in the January transfer window.
During his unsettled stint in Italy, he was briefly linked with a shock move to Old Trafford but he has now made it clear he will never play for the 20-time English champions.
Speaking about comparisons between Dortmund's rivals Bayern Munich and Manchester United, Can stated both are top clubs but stated he will never don the jersey of the 'Red Devils'.
"The comparison fits," Can told German outlet SportBild. "Both are record champions and have huge strength. In addition, big names like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Owen Hargreaves played for both clubs.
"But I would never play for United because of my time in Liverpool. My heart won't let me do that. The rivalry between the clubs is really huge."
Can's club Dortmund recently returned on the pitch as they thumped cross-town rivals Schalke 4-0 in their first Bundesliga match after resumption of the league, which was halted abruptly due to coronavirus pandemic in March.
( With inputs from IANS )