CHERRY PICKED
I was close to joining Man Utd in shock transfer but 15-minute Zoom call changed everything
The youngster wants to follow in the footsteps of two Premier League stars
MANCHESTER UNITED missed out on a January transfer target thanks to a 15-minute Zoom call.
Callan McKenna joined Bournemouth on deadline day from Scottish club Queen's Park, despite being on the brink of a move to Old Trafford instead.
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The 17-year-old Scot was being eyed by the Red Devils throughout January but ultimately decided that a move to the South Coast would better suit his career.
McKenna had met Man Utd staff and was set to head to a training session when he was convinced to join 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 persuasive as it took them just 15 minutes to turn the young shot-stopper's head.
Asked what made him choose the Cherries by the club's official matchday programme, McKenna said: "A 15-minute Zoom call with Simon Francis and Neil Moss.
"I travelled to Manchester and met the people from Manchester United the day before deadline day.
“That night, I had the Zoom call and was invested in coming here.
“The following morning, the guys from United came to take me to the training ground and I told them it wasn’t what I wanted.
“They tried their best to persuade me, but I wanted to come here.”
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The choice has paid off so far with the youngster earning himself a spot on the bench in the Premier League three times since arriving at the club.
The Scotland youth international wasn't only convinced by Francis and Moss, but also has his heart set on replicating the careers of two fellow Premier League keepers who came through the ranks at Bournemouth.
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He added: "I thought I would be closer to the first team [at Bournemouth].
"And you only need to look at some of the goalkeepers Bournemouth have brought through, 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 this or that team, that’s for later in my career.
“Hopefully in 20 years’ time, you can say you’ve done X, Y or Z. But for the here and now, Bournemouth is perfect for me.
“It was difficult to adjust at the start, but I love it now. This is my life now and I feel I’m progressing well so, hopefully, I can continue to do that.
“Hopefully coming here will put me on the way to eventually playing in the Premier League.”
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Travers has made over 75 appearances for Bournemouth since he broke through at the academy and is now a four-time international with the Republic of Ireland.
While Aaron Ramsdale made a name for himself at the Vitality Stadium before joining Sheffield United and later earning himself a huge move to Arsenal.
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