Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign Arsenal 'Invincible' in his most ambitious transfer as Man Utd manager
Sir Alex Ferguson had a habit of snapping up huge signings from rival clubs but his most ambitious attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.
In 2012, Ferguson angered Arsenal by bringing in Robin van Persie for £24 million and regaining the Premier League title from Manchester City after the Dutchman scored 26 goals in 38 games.
Van Persie was United's captain and talisman but many years before, Ferguson looked to bring in one of Arsenal's main men during the peak of their club's heated rivalry.
Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were tussling it out for the Premier League title and in 2003, the Scot tried to get one over his opposite number in a huge way.
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A June 2003 report from Daniel Taylor and The Guardian claimed that Ferguson wanted to sign Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira and instructed the board into the possibility of getting a deal done for £22 million.
United had just pipped Arsenal to the title but after selling David Beckham to Real Madrid, were eyeing up Vieira as a marquee signing.
It was claimed by Ferguson that Vieira was set to join two years prior in 2001 and had even given his word over the transfer but Arsenal, having been at odds with his then-agent Marc Rogers, blocked it from happening.
Vieira had a year remaining on his contract at Highbury and there was genuine belief from Ferguson and United that they could prise him away.
However, Wenger remained confident that Vieira would extend his stay at Arsenal and he did just that - penning a deal until 2007 and captaining the North London giants to an unprecedented, undefeated Premier League title in the 2003/04 season.
Vieira responded to Sir Alex Ferguson pursuit
In 2005, Vieira returned to Italy with Juventus and played 42 times. But he continued to be linked with United and in his autobiography, the World Cup winner felt the need to set the record straight.
According to Vieira, he never sat down with Ferguson and he never saw himself playing at Old Trafford as it was "the ultimate betrayal".
"I am very happy at Juventus and there is no truth in me coming back to England," he stated, as per Sky Sports.
"And certainly not to Manchester United. In the end it went too far with Manchester United and me.
"To say I turned United down during my time at Arsenal is a big phrase because nothing was made clear. I was told United made me an offer - a very good one - and I don't know if they were told I wanted to go there.
"But I never met Sir Alex Ferguson. There was a lot of confusion and that was my fault."
He added: "I never knew if it was really United who were interested or someone trying to work for United to make his own money.
"But I never saw myself playing for them. I was well established with The Gunners, so it would have been the ultimate betrayal."
Vieira did end up in Manchester eventually though as after a spell with Inter Milan, he signed for City in 2010 and played 46 times - winning the FA Cup before becoming the manager of the club's reserve side.
The 49-year-old has since managed New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and current club Genoa back in Serie A.
Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal, Manchester United
Josh Lawless