Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he never made a move for Anthony Martial this summer because Monaco told him the forward was not sale.
The 19-year-old completed a £36m move to Manchester United on deadline day - a deal which could potentially rise to £58m - and has made a great start to life at Old Trafford scoring four goals in his first four matches.
Martial is in line to face the Gunners this weekend when the two sides meet in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1HD from 3.30pm.
Wenger, who admits he has tracked Martial since his early days with Lyon, could not believe that the Ligue 1 outfit sold the French international.
"I was surprised they sold him," Wenger told several national newspapers.
"The amount of money was massive. I believe that you could think that, if you are Monaco, you could have sold him as well next season.
"So I thought they would not sell him this year because they sold many other players.
"I thought they would maintain their word. He was not sellable. He was not on the list. He was one of the players Monaco did not want to sell, so we never made an approach for him.
"Only an acceptable amount of money after could do it. We always liked him, even when he was in Lyons."