Ex-Premier League star admits he only joined Liverpool because Man United didn't want him

Former Premier League star Paul Ince admitted he only joined Liverpool because Manchester United were not interested in re-signing him.

Ince is one of a handful of players to have played for both United and Liverpool in their careers.

The former England international made 281 appearances for United between 1989 and 1995, winning two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one League Cup, one European Cup Winners’ Cup and a European Super Cup, before moving to Inter in Serie A.

Ince spent two years in Italy before deciding to move back to England.

But the player revealed that the only reason he ended up signing for Liverpool was because United decided not to take up their first refusal on their midfielder.

Speaking to TalkSPORT via Football365, Ince explained: “I have always kind of felt – and I have said this time and time again – it is no disrespect to both teams but I’d have never have gone to Liverpool straight from Manchester United or from Liverpool straight to Manchester United. That is a cardinal sin.

“When I left to go to Inter Milan, I didn’t want to leave Manchester United. When I came back from Inter Milan, Man United had first refusal on me. I could have easily gone back to Manchester United – they turned down that decision to take me back.

“Whether I would have gone back I don’t know, but all I know is I had two years at Inter, another three years left on my contract, obviously the family situation was difficult so we came back.

“Peter Robinson came over from Liverpool, we sat down and had some lunch, we agreed that was the way I was going to go. I love the North West.

“I’d spent six or seven years there with United, knew Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, David James, so it was easy to settle in.”

The same interview saw Ince recall a verbal confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson after beating Norwich City in the 1992/93 season.

Ince explained: “We had a big, big game with Norwich in 1992/93 and Norwich were going for the title.

“They were a very, very good team and I think we won the game 3-0 or 3-1, and with about five minutes to go I had the ball and I went on a little mazy run and I lost the ball, they went up the pitch and nearly scored.

“I didn’t think anything of it, so we got into the changing room, all the lads were patting each other on the back and saying ‘well done’ and I joined in the fun and then Sir Alex came storming through the door like Rambo and absolutely slaughtered me.

“He was shouting ‘What are you doing Incey? You’re not [Diego] Maradona, get the ball and pass it to the best players!’.

“I’m thinking ‘Where’s this come from?’ and me being me I bit back, we’d just beat title contenders comfortably at Carrow Road and I’ve had a decent game.

“But it was all about standards for him and doing the right things all the time and not coming away from that, and that shows the greatness of the man. But me being the character I was at the time, I bit back, and started having a shouting match.”