Pep Guardiola behind reason for rejecting Manchester United says Thiago Alcantara

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara says the chance to resume his football education under Pep Guardiola was behind his decision to reject a move to Manchester United in 2013.

The Italian-born Spain international became Guardiola's first signing a year on from leaving Barcelona, with Thiago following the two-time Champions League winning manager to the Bavarian giants.

Thiago was heavily linked with becoming David Moyes's first signing at United and the 24-year-old became the first of several deals during a harrowing eight months in charge at Old Trafford for the Scot.

And though the player admits a move to United was a possibility, he concedes the opportunity to link up with Guardiola again was too good a chance to turn down.

"Yes [United were a possibility], but the real possibility was Bayern," he told The Guardian ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona.

Asked whether Guardiola was behind his move to the Bundesliga club, he said: "Yes, probably, but I can't change the past and I prefer to focus on now. You learn something new every day with Pep, a magnificent coach who transmits real passion."

While United have struggled to recapture their very best form since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Thiago has flourished since turning down a move to the Premier League.

A winner of five major trophies in the first two seasons of his Bayern career, any fears the decision to reject United was a mistake have been firmly dismissed but the player believes he would have adapted to English football.

"Football's football," he added. "It's a question of learning. And if football wasn't like that, it would be boring. I was lucky, my dad played in many different places and I saw different styles.

"Wouldn't it be dull if everyone played like the Spanish, or the English or the Argentinians? In Italy they're incredibly competitive [and] defend so well; in England it's more direct; in France, it's physical."