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Topics: Wilfried Zaha, Manchester United, Premier League, Crystal Palace, Sir Alex Ferguson
Daniel Marland
Topics: Wilfried Zaha, Manchester United, Premier League, Crystal Palace, Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson 'never spoke' to Wilfried Zaha, who was his final signing as Manchester United manager.
Ferguson signed off on a transfer for Crystal Palace winger Zaha in January 2013 before retiring the following May.
Zaha was loaned back to the Eagles for the rest of the season and joined United in the summer, who had appointed David Moyes as manager in the meantime.
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The Ivory Coast international made just four appearances for United and rejoined Palace 18 months later.
Neil Warnock played a big role in Zaha's return to Selhurst Park and he was shocked at how little of a chance he was given.
He was also shocked Ferguson didn't have a one-to-one chat with Zaha as he agreed he could be a big player for the Red Devils in the future.
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Warnock told talkSPORT: "I signed him when I went to Crystal Palace. He’s always loved there. I would have liked to see him go to another top club.
"When he came back to me when I re-signed him, I remember talking to him in the chairman’s office.
"I said to him, 'Did you get on alright with Sir Alex?' He said, 'He never spoke to me once'.
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"He was only a young lad and went there and didn’t get a lot of help. I’d love to have seen him [at a top club]. When he’s got an arm around him, he’s so exciting to watch and so dynamic. I think he’s going to have an excellent season this year."
Since returning to London, Zaha has been one of the Premier League's best players outside the top six and reached double figures in three of his last four seasons.
He's been linked with a number of clubs throughout the years but stayed loyal to Palace.
In an interview with the Mirror in 2020, Zaha discussed his move to United and meeting Ferguson for the first time.
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He said: "I’m still buzzing about the day when I actually met Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton. Even to this day.
"One of the greatest managers in the Premier League, and he’s telling me: 'I want you to come to my team.' It was a no-brainer. I was a bit sad when I saw him leave, because he didn’t tell me he was going to retire."