Manchester United reportedly preferred to send Amad Diallo on loan to Rangers despite an offer from Serie A outfit Sassuolo in January.
The 19-year-old winger was initially set to join Feyenoord on a temporary deal in the summer, but the deal collapsed after he picked up an injury.
Diallo regained his fitness but after making only one senior appearance for the Red Devils, the Ivory Coast international was allowed to leave the club on loan for the rest of the season, with Scottish giants Rangers eventually recruiting the player in January.
According to Calciomercato, Sassuolo were keen to sign Diallo on loan last month and made the 'most concrete survey' to acquire his services; however, Man United chose to sent the winger to Glasgow instead.
The report adds that the Red Devils view Rangers as an 'intermediate step' for Diallo, before integrating him into their first-team plans at Old Trafford.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick and United's hierarchy still have faith in Diallo's potential to become a top player for the club in the future and they hope that he can develop in the short term under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Diallo, who scored within the first four minutes of his Rangers debut earlier this month, has made a total of five appearances for the Scottish side. body check tags ::
