Sir Alex Ferguson cancelled Man Utd signing after 'tense' 20 minute meeting locked in room with player

Sir Alex Ferguson famously never took no for an answer, making him one of the greatest managers of all time.

But occasionally, the legendary former Manchester United manager had to accept defeat, and one such time came when he made a last-ditch attempt to save a controversial transfer and sign a youngster from under the noses of rivals Chelsea.

It was a transfer saga that lasted over a year, with United and Chelsea taking the matter to FIFA to settle the case, but they would ultimately recuse themselves of making a decision.

That saw the transfer go back to the young player in question, with Ferguson made aware that he was leaning towards Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford and taking matters into his own hands.

Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Chelsea in his latter years at Manchester United. (Image: Getty)

Back in 2005, Jon Obi Mikel had agreed a pre-contract deal with United to sign for them when he turned 18, but Chelsea also agreed a deal which prompted the matter going to FIFA to decide where the Nigerian would play.

Speaking on talkSPORT earlier this year, Mikel recalled the saga and a strange meeting with Ferguson that ended with the United supremo finally accepting he would lose the midfielder to Chelsea.

"FIFA was trying to sort it out. They couldn't sort it out for about a year. I missed a year of football. So I was staying in an apartment in Fulham," Mikel said.

Jon Obi Mikel chose Chelsea over Manchester United. (Image: Getty)

"United didn't want to let me go. Chelsea were not going to back down because they were saying, ‘He's our player, we took him to Norway, we've been looking after him. He's going to school in Norway playing football'.

"So the whole thing was just crazy. And then FIFA said, ‘Listen, we tried, we couldn't sort it out. It's down to the FA to sort it out'. So then the FA got involved.

"Then Fergie said, ‘Listen, give me 30 minutes with the kid, alone, in a boardroom office. I can convince him to still come to Manchester United'. So he flew down to London. I was in a room with him, alone."

Mikel won 11 major trophies with Chelsea after turning down United. (Image: Getty)

Mikel added: "My agent was sitting outside. And he said, ‘Whatever he says to you in that meeting, just nod your head and say, nope, nope, nope'. So I spent 20 minutes with him, locked in a room. He was just saying, ‘What is the problem? Why don't you want to come to Manchester United? Is it more money? I will give you more money. What do you need? What do you want? We need you at the club'.

"I just kept saying no. I said, 'Sorry, I just want to play for Chelsea'."

Mikel then remembered how Ferguson returned to Manchester, later informing Chelsea that United would walk away from the deal if Chelsea paid them out of their agreement

"I think it was £12/13 million to Manchester United and £4 million to my club in Norway. And that was how the whole thing was sorted," the midfielder remembered.

Mikel would represent Chelsea 372 times over 11 years having won the battle for a player who played a key role in their success over that period, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, plus the Champions League and Europa League.