Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that the club swooped for Renato Sanches after Manchester United's pursuit fell away.
The 19-year-old, who helped Portugal win the European Championships in the summer, signed for the Bundesliga giants in May from Benfica for a fee in the region of €35m (£29.8m).
While discussing the transfer, Rummenigge told Bild: "We knew very well that Renato had a firm offer from Manchester United.
"I heard that the United deal couldn't be completed, as they didn't know who their next manager would be. We invited Benfica's president and Sanches's agent to Madrid and that night we shook hands on the transfer."
Sanches has made two appearances for the German outfit this season - one in the Bundesliga and the other in the Champions League.