Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa was a VVV Venlo REJECT, it has been revealed.

VVV chief Hans Soentjens admits Kagawa was offered to the Dutch outfit, but he failed to convince then coach Jan van Dijk.

"On Shinji, we were advised by Keisuke Honda. Keisuke wanted Shinji in Venlo where he would begin to adjust to Europe. Shinji was here for a week trialling, but our former coach Jan van Dijk did not see anything in him," recalled Soentjens.