Athletic Bilbao rejects Manchester United's £29m bid for Ander Herrera

Athletic Bilbao have rejected Manchester United's £28.7million bid for Ander Herrera as their political posturing over his departure kicks in.

United are confident, having met Herrera's contracted buy-out clause on Tuesday, that the transfer will proceed and know that the player wants to join.

Bilbao have made it known to their supporters that they do not wish to accept Herrera's departure so readily.


The 24-year-old is regarded as one of Athletic's best players and the proud Basque club cannot lose face among its supporters.

The Spanish club put a short statement on their website on Thursday morning saying that the bid had been rejected.

It read: 'Athletic Club wishes to report that this week (it has) rejected an offer from Manchester United FC, estimated at 36 million euros, to transfer the economic rights of the player Ander Herrera.'

However, Herrera was at Carrington on Wednesday and fully intends to complete the transfer to Old Trafford.

Herrera, an intelligent and stylish midfielder, was the subject of a £24m offer from David Moyes’s United last summer.

Herrera has been watched by United for more than three years, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s brother Martin among the first to bring him to the club’s attention.