That's according to the Serie A side's technical director Monchi.
Roma sold left-back Emerson Palmieri to Chelsea for £18m and were scouring the market for a replacement.
Dutchman Blind has been out of favour at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho this season.
United were keen to get the utility man off their spiralling wage bill having agreed to pay Alexis Sanchez around £500,000-a-week.
So Blind was touted around Europe and Roma were keen to take him on loan for the rest of the season.
United had other plans however and were only interested in securing a permanent deal for the 27-year-old.
“Blind was offered to us three or four days ago, but we decided he was not the right player”
Monchi
Roma took Jonathan Silva on loan from Sporting Lisbon instead and Monchi insists the Argentine was always the preferred candidate instead of Blind.
"We talked with Jonathan Silva even before the window opened, in expectation of Emerson leaving," Monchi said.
"Blind was offered to us three or four days ago, but we decided he was not the right player, even from an economic point of view, which is important."
After rumours of a late bid from Liverpool, Roma were reportedly in danger of losing their highly-rated goalkeeper Alisson.
getty
However, Monchi denied claims that an offer was made.
"No, no," he replied to a question on a bid for Alisson.
"Now let me rest for a week before we start talking about the next transfer period."
Man Utd are back in action against Huddersfield on Saturday (3pm).