03-12-2009, 03:58 PM
United have decided not to take up the option to sign Partizan Belgrade midfielder Adem Ljajic.
United had an agreement in place with the Serbian club for the 18-year-old to join the Old Trafford club in January.
However, the Premier League champions feel they have a wealth of talent in midfield and their initial interest in Ljajic will not be followed up.
Ljajic had been part of the deal that brought fellow Serbian Zoran Tosic to the club.
United had announced that Ljajic would be loaned back to Partizan for the remainder of 2009, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson saying last January: "Ljajic will join us next year."
Both players posed for photos holding United shirts with Ferguson, while Ljajic, who is regarded as one of Serbia's brightest young talents, made several trips to Manchester to train with the squad at their Carrington base.
A United spokesman told the club's website: "We had an option to buy the player but, having closely monitored his development over past 12 months and taken into the consideration the young players emerging through the ranks, we have chosen not to pursue the transfer."
United had an agreement in place with the Serbian club for the 18-year-old to join the Old Trafford club in January.
However, the Premier League champions feel they have a wealth of talent in midfield and their initial interest in Ljajic will not be followed up.
Ljajic had been part of the deal that brought fellow Serbian Zoran Tosic to the club.
United had announced that Ljajic would be loaned back to Partizan for the remainder of 2009, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson saying last January: "Ljajic will join us next year."
Both players posed for photos holding United shirts with Ferguson, while Ljajic, who is regarded as one of Serbia's brightest young talents, made several trips to Manchester to train with the squad at their Carrington base.
A United spokesman told the club's website: "We had an option to buy the player but, having closely monitored his development over past 12 months and taken into the consideration the young players emerging through the ranks, we have chosen not to pursue the transfer."