Lindelof deemed not good enough by Birmingham City

Bengaluru, September 22: Championship side Birmingham City passed up the opportunity to sign current Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof because he was not strong enough, according to former Blues manager Gary Rowett.

The Red Devils signed the 23-year-old Sweden international from Benfica for an initial £31 million this summer but he could be plying his trade in England now if Birmingham had signed the Swede.

However, now Derby County manager Rowett, who was formerly in charge at Birmingham from 2014 to 2016, said his side evaluated Lindelof before being put off by the player's physical shortcomings.

"We had a few phone calls about him when I was manager of Birmingham City about three years ago," Rowett told Sky Sports about Lindelof, who at that time was still waiting to make a proper breakthrough at Benfica.

“An agent called us and said Benfica were trying to get some of the younger players out to expose them to different levels.

“We had a look at him. It’s ironic actually. I put it to the staff and some of them felt he wasn’t quite tough enough.

“Then suddenly he’s being touted around at £20-30 million so I think we made a mistake!

“He got straight back into the Benfica team very quickly and, of course, went from strength to strength.”

"We had a look at him but the staff felt that he wasn't strong enough."

Lindelof made his third appearance in all competitions for the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Burton Albion on Wednesday. The young defender has looked sharp so far and has impressed the fans with his neat passing ability and confidence on the ball.

However, the 23-year-old will need time to become the first-choice under Mourinho at Manchester United as the Portuguese manager usually prefers to take time before putting a young player coming from a foreign league under pressure.