They are the thoughts of United’s former scout, Marcelo Teixeira, who claims the club’s hierarchy were put off by the players’ pace.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to England over the last year or so, with Chelsea previously keen on a move in January, before turning their attentions to Juan Cuadrado.
But it could have been United who Costa may have been turning out for, with former-manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, optioning against the signing in 2009.
“Jose Mayorga [United’s man in Argentina] loved James,” Teixeira told FourFourTwo.
“He had always included his name in his files, but the evaluation was that his profile didn’t suit the Premier League.
“Basically, he hadn’t got the speed required for English football. The chief scout [Jim Lawlor] regarded Maylson [now playing for Brazilian minor sides] higher than Douglas Costa and James.”
By Ben Reardon
