Summer signing claims preference in joining Southampton over Man United

Saints signed the midfielder last month as boss Ronald Koeman restructures his squad following the departure of Morgan Schneiderlin to United, and the former Feyenoord man is seen as a natural replacement for the France worldwide.

Jordy Clasie has insisted that he would have moved to Southampton even if he had been offered the chance to join Manchester United.

“It is wiser to get in low and then move to the high end than the other way around”.

United’s interest in Clasie stemmed from the man at the helm, Louis van Gaal, who, whilst manager of the Dutch national side, was so impressed with the young midfielder that he gave him his global debut back in 2012. His mother walked out on him and his family when he was just 10 years old.

Clasie, however, hailed the presence of his father and and admitted his first tattoo was in honour of him.

‘She just left us. “It’s in my heart and I can’t forget it”, Clasie said.

The Saints are now preparing for their first game of the Premier League season, where they travel to the north east to take on Steve McClaren’s Newcastle United at St James Park.

Clasie paid tribute to his dad by getting a tattoo which says “Papa, you mean everything to me”. In this way I carry my father and brother with me every day.’.