'Very disrespectful'- Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff opens up on failed £50m Man United transfer

Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has opened up on his failed move to Manchester United in 2019.

The 26-year-old was strongly linked with the Red Devils five years ago, though a transfer failed to materialise after Newcastle's £50million asking price emerged.

Interest in Longstaff arrived on the back of his breakthrough season at St James' Park, which saw him make 11 successive starts under Rafa Benitez's stewardship before damaging his knee ligaments in a 2-0 away defeat by West Ham in March 2019.

United initially made contact with the Magpies with the intention of offering £20m, though quickly discovered Newcastle were seeking more than double this amount and an agreement between both parties could not be found.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are not reading off the same Manchester United page

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag handed Manchester United sack timeline amid major warning and INEOS plan

Walking out at Old Trafford, of all places, as captain of Newcastle back in November, highlighted how things could have worked out differently for Longstaff. But how exactly does he reflect on not ending up as a member of the Red Devils' squad?

"I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I felt the same that night [captaining Newcastle], walking out and looking around," Longstaff explained. "If that move had happened, I'd never have been about for the Newcastle takeover and I'd never have been able to captain the club. There are so many things I wouldn't have been able to do.

"I'm happy it didn't happen in the end, because what I've gone on to achieve over the last two years - scoring in a League Cup semi-final, getting to play in a cup final, playing in the Champions League - have