Sir Alex Ferguson was urged to sign two Real Madrid legends by former Manchester United player Jordi Cruyff.
After spending time in Spain whilst on loan at Celta Vigo from United, Cruyff was asked by Ferguson for scouting recommendations.
The Dutchman urged his boss to go after two of his Celta teammates at the time, Michel Salgado and Claude Makelele.
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However, Ferguson decided against moving for the two players and they eventually made almost 500 appearances for Madrid.
During an interview with The Times, Cruyff recalled his time in Spain.
He said: “I was at Celta Vigo for four months.
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“They had [Aleksandr] Mostovoi, [Valery] Karpin, Michel Salgado, [Claude] Makélélé, Mazinho, the Brazilian World Cup winner and captain and the father of Thiago [Alcântara]. When you look at those names you think, ‘Wow, what an amazing team that was!’
“I just needed to feel I was a football player again.”
Cruyff then spoke about the debrief he had with Ferguson on the back of his loan spell.
He added: “Then I came back to Manchester and the first thing that Ferguson asked was, ‘If there were two players you could recommend, who?’
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“I told him: ‘Michel Salgado is going to be a good right back’ — he had 10 years at Real Madrid — ‘and Makélélé. This guy, what a midfielder.’ He eventually went to Chelsea. He was the motor in the midfield.
“So I advised him these two and he didn’t take anybody. At least I came up with a good list!”
Salgado ended up winning both the La Liga and the Champions League during his time with the Los Blancos.
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Makelele meanwhile became the heart of the Madrid midfield before joining Premier League side Chelsea and helping them to win their first league title in over half a century.
Cruyff is now working as the sporting director at his former club Barcelona.
Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Football
Marcus Chan