Forward Benjamin Sesko has shared the reasons behind why his transfer to Manchester United only materialised last summer after years of speculation linking him with the club.

United’s pursuit of Sesko dates back to his time at RB Salzburg, where he frequently drew comparisons to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Still disappointed after missing out on signing Haaland, the Red Devils turned their attention to Sesko. However, their efforts were unsuccessful as the Slovenian forward chose to join RB Leipzig instead.

Sesko began his journey with Leipzig during the 2023/24 season. When United returned for him in the summer of 2024, he once again turned down the move, opting to continue his development in the Bundesliga. The following summer, Arsenal appeared close to signing him but withdrew from negotiations, deciding instead to focus on acquiring Viktor Gyokeres.

This reopened the door for United, who acted swiftly to secure their long-term target. The club managed to complete the signing ahead of Newcastle United, despite the Magpies offering significantly higher wages.

Manchester United paid £74 million to bring Sesko to Old Trafford.

His early days under manager Ruben Amorim were somewhat inconsistent, but his performance reached new heights after Michael Carrick took over as head coach from the Portuguese tactician.

Sesko ended the 2025/26 campaign with an impressive record of 11 goals in 30 Premier League matches. Remarkably, nine of those goals came in his final 14 appearances for the club.

The 22-year-old missed the last three games of the season after aggravating an injury during United’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sesko revealed that his move to Manchester United had been in the works for several years.

The striker told GMS, “For a couple of years, they had really wanted me, and I wanted to join too, but I kept asking myself, ‘am I really ready yet?’”

“When the time came, I knew it was the right moment. I wanted to come here, there was no doubt in my mind. I wanted to challenge myself.”

“Becoming part of this club means a lot to me, and I’m really happy about it.”

With Slovenia not participating in the World Cup, Sesko has sufficient time to recover fully and prepare for Manchester United’s upcoming pre-season tour.