Sir Alex Ferguson named the Barcelona player he would sign for Man Utd if he was given a blank cheque
Sir Alex Ferguson joked that he would sign this controversial Barcelona player after his side lost the 2011 UEFA Champions League final
Barcelona tore Manchester United to shreds during the 2011 UEFA Champions League final.
The Spanish giants stormed to a 3-1 win at Wembley thanks to goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi, and David Villa.
The Red Devils were no slouches either.
Their squad featured the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar and goalscorer Wayne Rooney.
Advert
However, Barca put on one of the great Champions League final performances ever, with Messi picking up the Player of the Match award.
Pep Guardiola also had generational talents like Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Dani Alves at his disposal that night.
However, Messi was undoubtedly the star of the show as the La Liga side won their fourth Champions League crown.
That fact appeared to go right over the head of one journalist though.
During the post-match press conference, a mystery man asked Sir Alex Ferguson which Barca player he would sign if the Manchester United board gave him a blank check.
Needless to say, the Scottish legend did not hold back in his response, joking that he would go for Messi’s Argentina teammate, Javier Mascherano.
“Sir Alex, if the owners of Manchester United gave you a blank check over the summer and allowed you to bring in any one, just one of Barcelona’s team from tonight, who would you sign?” asked the journalist.
“That is one of the most stupid questions I have ever heard in my life,” responded the former Red Devils boss.
“[It] would be [Javier] Mascherano.”
Mascherano started that game at centre-back alongside former United defender Gerard Pique.
He was a great player in his own right, but by no means one of the biggest players on Barcelona’s team sheet that night.
United defeated Marseille, Chelsea and Schalke 04 in the knockout stages to reach that year’s final, while Barca overcame Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, and bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Guardiola’s side also beat United 2-0 in the final just two years earlier, thanks to goals from Samuel Eto'o and Messi.
Ferguson has previously admitted that one aspect of his team selection in 2009 was the biggest regret of his Manchester United career.
The 2011 final was the last time a team managed by Ferguson reached the final of the Champions League.
Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Barcelona, Champions League
Jonathan Bray