MANCHESTER UNITED missed out on a January transfer target thanks to a 15-minute Zoom call.
Callan McKenna joined Bournemouth on deadline day against Scottish club Queen's Park, despite being on the verge of moving to Old Trafford.
The 17-year-old Scot was monitored by the Red Devils throughout January, but ultimately decided a move to the south coast would suit his career better.
McKenna had met Man Utd's staff and was about to go to training when he was convinced to go to Bournemouth instead after a video call with Neil Moss and Simon Francis.
Francis, Bournemouth's technical director, and Moss, the club's goalkeeping coach, were clearly convincing as it took them just 15 minutes to turn the young shot-stopper's head.
Asked what made him choose the Cherries on the club's official matchday programme, McKenna said: “A 15-minute Zoom call with Simon Francis and Neil Moss.
“I traveled to Manchester and met the people of Manchester United the day before the deadline.
“That night I got the Zoom call and decided to come here.
“The next morning the United boys came to take me to the training ground and I told them it wasn't what I wanted.
“They did their best to convince me, but I wanted to come here.”
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The choice has paid off so far, with the youngster earning a spot on the bench in the competition Premier League three times since arriving at the club.
The Scotland As well as being convinced by Francis and Moss, the youth international has set his sights on replicating the careers of two fellow Premier League goalkeepers who have come through the ranks at Bournemouth.
He added: “I thought I would be closer to the first team [at Bournemouth].
“And you only have to look at some of the goalkeepers that Bournemouth have spent like Mark Travers And Aaron Ramsdale. You want to follow in their footsteps.
“Coming here sounded perfect and it has been so far. It's not just about the badge or saying you play for some team, that's for later in my career.
“Hopefully in twenty years you can say you have done X, Y or Z. But for the here and now, Bournemouth is perfect for me.
“It was difficult to adapt at first, but now I love it. This is my life now and I feel like I'm making good progress, so hopefully I can continue to do that.
“Hopefully coming here will put me on the path to eventually playing in the Premier League.”
Travers has played more than 75 games for Bournemouth since breaking into the youth academy and is now a four-time international with the republic of Ireland.
While Aaron Ramsdale made his name at the Vitality Stadium before joining Sheffield United and later earned a huge move to Arsenal.
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