Antoine Semenyo rejected Manchester United in favour of Manchester City as the decision added another dramatic chapter to what has become one of the most closely watched transfer stories of the January window.
With several Premier League heavyweights circling, the Bournemouth forward ultimately opted for Pep Guardiola’s side, despite strong and sustained efforts from Old Trafford to change his mind.
The 25-year-old has been one of the standout performers for Bournemouth this season, combining power, pace and versatility in attack.
His form triggered a £65m (€74m) release clause in his contract, opening the door for a scramble among some of England’s biggest clubs. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all explored the possibility of signing him, but it was City who emerged as Semenyo’s preferred destination.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now explained the reason why Antoine Semenyo rejected Manchester United in favour of Manchester City, shedding light on why United’s aggressive push failed and how City were able to convince the player so quickly.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano outlined the scale of United’s efforts, the breakdown of talks with other suitors, and the decisive role played by Guardiola’s vision for the player.
United’s push and Semenyo’s doubts
Manchester United’s interest in Semenyo was serious and sustained. With the club looking to reshape their attacking options under Ruben Amorim, Semenyo was identified as a player capable of fitting into a flexible front line.
There were early suggestions that his role could involve playing as a wing-back, but Romano made it clear that United addressed this concern directly in talks with the player.
“Manchester United, in the conversations they had with Semenyo, made clear that they were even prepared to change the system to welcome him to the club. So Semenyo was not going to play wing back,” Romano said on YouTube.
According to Romano, United went further than simply clarifying Semenyo’s position. They were willing to adapt their tactical approach to accommodate him as a forward, underlining how highly they rated the Bournemouth man.
“The idea of Man United was even to open doors to a different system with Semenyo up front. But, despite an important financial effort and despite their tactical effort to welcome Semenyo, they did not get the green light from him.”
Financially, United were prepared to match the demands of the deal and meet the release clause. Tactically, they were open to reshaping their system. Yet, despite what Romano described as intense pressure in the final stages, there was a sense that Semenyo remained unconvinced about the move.
Romano suggested that United eventually accepted the player’s stance, even if it was a frustrating outcome after so much work behind the scenes.
“The reaction from Man Utd is ‘okay, we tried our best.’” Amorim has indicated that they only want players who want to be at the club. They had a feeling that maybe Semenyo was not convinced because, trust me, United in the last week have been pushing like crazy. Like crazy.
Amid the report that Antoine Semenyo rejected Manchester United in favour of Manchester City, Tottenham were also keen and willing to trigger the release clause, but Romano revealed that the player had little interest in a move to north London.
Liverpool monitored the situation, particularly in light of Alexander Isak’s long-term injury, but they never formalised their interest. Chelsea, meanwhile, made contact with Semenyo’s representatives, but talks failed to generate momentum.
According to Romano, discussions between Chelsea and the player’s camp lacked chemistry, leaving both sides with “no feeling” that a deal should progress. As a result, the field gradually narrowed, leaving Manchester City in pole position.
Guardiola’s vision and City’s decisive move
While other clubs hesitated or struggled to convince the player, Manchester City moved with clarity and speed. Romano explained that City’s approach stood out because of the direct involvement of Guardiola and the strength of the sporting vision presented to Semenyo.
City identified Semenyo as a player who could thrive within Guardiola’s system, offering versatility across the front line and the physical profile to cope with the demands of elite-level football.
Guardiola’s approval was a crucial factor, and once City made their intentions clear, the player’s response was immediate.
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City also benefited from timing. With Semenyo’s release clause only valid until January 10, there was urgency on all sides. City pushed to move quickly, ensuring that uncertainty did not creep into negotiations.
Romano described Semenyo as being “immediately convinced” by City’s proposal, highlighting how the combination of Guardiola’s reputation, City’s recent success and a clear pathway within the squad helped seal the player’s preference.
Negotiations with Bournemouth are now focused on the structure of the deal, even though the release clause sets a clear valuation.
Meanwhile, as with many high-profile transfers, there remains room for late twists, and Romano urged caution until everything is signed and sealed.
“Until the deal is signed and completed, we have to be careful until the very end because in this kind of crazy sagas, anything can always happen,” Romano said.
“Maybe one of these clubs can try to return in the race, can try to convince the player, never say never. But as of tonight, Man City have the preference of Semenyo.”