Arsene Wenger admitted he didn't think Monaco would sell Anthony Martial, which is why Arsenal did not pursue him as the summer transfer window closed.
The Gunners manager has been a longtime admirer of the 19-year-old, who made a deadline day move to Manchester United for £36 million plus add-ons.
Martial has been an instant hit at Old Trafford, scoring three goals in six games and working his way into Louis van Gaal's team seamlessly since his move from Ligue 1.
Saturday's Daily Star back page: Martial Flaw #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/B8dx7ITNBA
- Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) October 2, 2015
Wenger was quoted in the Daily Star, saying: "I thought they would not sell him this year because they had sold so many other players.
"They said they would not sell him and I thought they were not in any need to sell and would maintain their word."
Before making a move to Arsenal in 1996, the French manager was in charge at AS Monaco from 1987-1994 with a brief spell at Nagoya Grampus in 1995-96. However, his connections from his managerial days did not help him land the young French star.
"The amount of money was massive but Monaco could have sold him next season instead," Wenger said. "I was surprised they sold him. Only an exceptional amount of money would do it."
This was not the first time Wenger had made a bid for Martial, saying the club wished they had signed him in the summer of 2014.
"We always liked him, already when he was in Lyon," Wenger said. "That was also a surprise, that Lyon sold him for five million euros."
Manchester United almost came up short on their bid for Martial as well, according to the Manchester Evening News. Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev says there was another club that outbid United, but that their young French star was set on a move to Manchester and the higher bid was turned back.
"I will not say how much, but the fixed price, without variables, it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco," Vasilyev said.
"But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. And we let him go with the bonus of €30m. Had it not been for so much money, he'd have stayed."
Wenger and Arsenal will face United on Sunday at the Emirates, and the Gunners manager says the verdict is still out on whether or not the fee paid for Martial was too much or a bargain.
"The future will tell us that," Wenger said.