A former Champions League-winner has revealed he was close to signing for Manchester United after engaging in “incredible talks” with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson, 83, led Man United to 38 trophies - 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup – during his 26-year reign as manager.
And throughout his time at Old Trafford, he coached some of the best players in the world, including Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and the greatest of them all, Cristiano Ronaldo.
But the distinguished list of ex-players he managed could have been further bolstered if it weren’t for AC Milan.
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Former Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Barcelona and Spurs midfielder Edgar Davids has revealed that Ferguson tried to sign him from Ajax in 1996 and even held talks with the former United boss before signing for Milan instead.
"I mean it's really, how you say, that I look differently at United,” Davids told MUTV.
"Because, you know, I already watched Manchester United as they had a player I really liked - Paul Ince.
"He was a midfielder who was unbelievable. I also played against him, when he played for Inter and I played for Milan.
"He was a big boy then, and it was a really amazing derby. Him against Marcel Desailly, who was a big boy too, and that was like a big battle in the midfield.
"I got to talk to Sir Alex, and it was one of the most incredible talks I’ve ever had.
"But I had already made my mind up to go somewhere else [Milan].
"Yes, it was in 1996, when I was with Ajax, but it was just the way he [Ferguson] was. His personality and everything. It was a whole different level.
"I played against amazing players [at United], who started doing amazing things. When you play against certain teams, you then also follow the careers of these young players.
"But no regrets. I only considered Italy for me because Italy was the place I wanted to be. The best players were playing in Italy at the time, like it is now in the Premier League."
And despite never playing for United, the Dutchman did play in the Premier League, having signed for Spurs in 2005 before representing two other English clubs, Crystal Palace and Barnet - then in League Two - before he managed them in the Conference.
Davids, 52, resigned in June 2014 and has since worked in various coaching roles at other clubs as well as for the Netherlands national team, acting as an assistant to Louis van Gaal at the 2022 World Cup.
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Transfer News, Premier League, Football, Champions League
Luke Davies