Sir Alex Ferguson turned down the chance to sign a legendary World Cup winner because he thought it would “annoy” one Manchester United legend.
That is according to former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards, who was in charge at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson first arrived at the club.
Edwards first took control of the Red Devils in 1980 after his father, Louis, passed away and later assumed the role of chief executive at United in 1982.
He stepped down as chief executive in 2000 – being replaced by his then-deputy Peter Kenyon – and oversaw incredible success at United thanks to Ferguson.
Edwards brought Ferguson to United as Ron Atkinson’s replacement in 1986 and the former Red Devils manager enjoyed a legendary 26-year reign at Old Trafford.
Ferguson, who predicted two United legends to become top managers, called it time on his prolific career in 2013 after he secured the club’s last Premier League title.
Edwards has now opened up about his time working with Ferguson and how United legend snubbed the chance to sign one iconic former player.
Edwards on Ferguson and United
During Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary career at Manchester United, the iconic Scotsman brought a plethora of world-class talent through the doors at Old Trafford.
The 82-year-old Scot admitted that he managed only four world-class players in his career, despite the star-studded talent available in his teams of the past.
Ferguson also failed in his bid to sign legendary players, with the former United boss previously admitting he wished he managed one iconic ex-footballer in particular.
Martin Edwards has now revealed that United had the chance to sign Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane during the 1990s.
Zidane, who is considered one of the best players of all time, had left French side Bordeaux in 1996 and completed a move to Serie A side Juventus.
However, United had the “opportunity” to sign the 51-year-old Frenchman and Edwards admitted that it would have been an “amazing buy.”
According to Edwards, Ferguson didn’t want United to follow through with a move for Zidane because he felt it would “annoy” club legend Eric Cantona.
“In France, we had an opportunity to get Zinedine Zidane, who would have been an amazing buy for us,” he told FourFourTwo magazine.
“But I think Alex felt that if he brought Zidane in, it would annoy Eric Cantona.”
Cantona had a legendary spell at United during the 1990s, but the Frenchman shocked the world in 1997 with his sudden retirement at the age of 30.
Zidane, meanwhile, would have a prolific playing career at both Juventus and Madrid, with ‘Zizou’ lifting the World Cup and the Ballon d’Or award in 1998.
Edwards talks another missed United target for Ferguson
Premier League legend Alan Shearer was heavily linked with United in his prolific playing career, but a move to Old Trafford failed to materialise.
Ferguson was a big admirer of Shearer and was keen to sign the former striker, but Edwards has revealed why they failed to land him from Blackburn Rovers.
“We’d agreed terms with Shearer, but I don’t think it was necessarily him not wanting to play for us,” Edwards said.
“Jack Walker [former Blackburn owner] wouldn’t allow him to come to us – he said he wasn’t going to sell him unless he joined Newcastle.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/z02ChlN