Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on failed transfer targets, says Man Utd never interested in Sneijder

Sir Alex Ferguson and Luis Suarez congratulated Liverpool
Sir Alex Ferguson and Luis Suarez congratulated Liverpool

Former Manchester United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about the failed transfer targets during his reign at Old Trafford.

The legendary manager brought some high-profile names into the spotlight during his extensive spell at Old Trafford, however, he still has regrets over missing out on Paul Gascoigne aka Gazza.

Gazza was highly speculated to join the Red Devils from Newcastle United in 1988, but he ended up signing for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ferguson feels that Gazza would have become a better player if he had chosen to represent United.

Speaking to the UTD Podcast (h/t Goal.com), the Scottish manager said: “In reality, you have to say, there’s only one that always comes to my mind and that’s Gascoigne.

“He was absolutely fantastic. I think if we’d have got him, he would have had a great career, I really do. I’m not saying he didn’t have a good career but he would have had a better career with us.

“We had Geordies in our squad like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce plus Bobby Charlton. Sir Bobby would have been a fantastic mentor to him because he’s such a fantastic man and even Gary Pallister, although he was from Middlesbrough and I know they don’t count that as a Geordie … someone who understands the culture like Gary would.

“He promised to sign for us and I went on holiday. I got a phone call from the front desk from Martin Edwards saying he’d signed for Tottenham. He signed for Tottenham because they bought his mother a house for £80,000 and, dearie me, I couldn’t believe it, you know. He was a fantastic player.”

Ferguson also shrugged off former Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder’s links, insisting that United were never interested in signing him.

The 79-year-old added: “That’s come up a lot of times but we were never interested in Sneijder.

“I don’t know where that came from but you get a lot of them. Every Sunday, in The People , when I first came, they were throwing names in all the time, you know.”