Manchester United signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window after a long pursuit
23:15, 14 Aug 2025
Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United poses after signing for the club
Manchester United's negotiator was described as 'ruthless' by Sesko's agent(Image: Manchester United, Manchester United via Getty Images)
The extraordinary lengths Manchester United went to secure the signing of Benjamin Sesko have been laid bare by the player's agent, Elvis Basanovic. He revealed that the Red Devils tracked his every move, engaging in negotiations across six different cities to pip Newcastle United to the post for Sesko's signature.
United bagged Sesko in a deal potentially worth £74million from RB Leipzig, bolstering Ruben Amorim's squad in a summer that also saw Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha make their way to Old Trafford.
Despite having a bid accepted first and the lure of Champions League football from Premier League rivals, United's top brass managed to convince Sesko that they were the right club for him. This transfer win comes as Marcus Rashford slams Man U, saying they "can't expect to win the league."
Arsenal were also in the running for Sesko's services early on, with the Slovenian international high on their wish list. However, the hefty price tag led the Gunners to switch targets, snapping up Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP instead.
Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko was unveiled as Manchester United's newest signing(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
But it was United's relentless pursuit that ultimately clinched the deal. A long-standing rapport between the parties certainly paid dividends.
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"We were in contact with Man United's negotiations director, Matt Hargreaves, who was a ruthless negotiator," Basanovic told the 24UR programme on Slovenian channel POP! TV.
"In the last 10-15 days, they followed my every step, and the talks took place in three different countries and six different cities."
United had been tracking Sesko for a good seven years, with the striker's agent keeping the club in the loop about his career plans. Although Sesko decided against a move to Manchester as a young lad, a Premier League transfer was always part of the game plan.
Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United poses with Director of Football Jason Wilcox
Manchester United were delighted to land Benjamin Sesko(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Basanovic revealed: 'We visited their academy when he was just 15. Even then, we were planning this move for the future. At the time, we didn't want him to go [when he was] so young.
"In recent years, we stayed in contact but we told them our plan - two years in the Bundesliga, to prepare for the future in the Premier League. We're delighted the plan worked."
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Basanovic also shed light on why a switch to Arsenal fell through. "It's hard to say exactly," he admitted.
"Whenever a deal doesn't go through, there are always several factors. In the end, everything has to align for it to happen
"What's important here is that Benjamin's wish, for years now, has always been United. And for United, he was even willing to take a pay cut to make the move happen. As his agent, I wanted to make that wish come true."