Such was Sir Alex Ferguson’s determination to sign Spanish star David De Gea, he was willing to miss a Manchester United game to do so.

Throughout his successful spell in charge at Old Trafford, the Scotsman missed just two games in the dugout.

The first was in 2000 to attend his son’s wedding but the second came in 2008 when he skipped a League Cup tie against Scunthorpe United to perform a scouting mission on De Gea.

“I remember that Sir Alex only missed two Manchester United games, the derby in 2000 for the wedding of his son and the second time was to sign the brilliant De Gea,” former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele told the Daily Mail.

“David showed composure, concentration and reflexes. He made one tremendous save when we went to see him play against Valencia after watching a three-minute DVD of his best saves.

“Sir Alex knew within 65 minutes that he was the right signing.”

Steele also revealed that there was a great deal of patience and understanding shown towards the goalkeeper when he first arrived from Atletico Madrid in a 19 million euros deal.

“Before him, Sir Alex had been patient with other players but it was the first time he had been like that with a goalkeeper,” he continued.

“People criticised David for his physique but we never put him on a specific programme or anything like that to improve it, we knew that strength and power would come.

“We encouraged him all the time, Ferguson never criticised him, not once. He left him out on some occasions and put him back in but never shouted at him or humiliated him.”

De Gea, who hit the headlines last weekend for his stunning performance in which he made 14 saves as the Red Devils won at Arsenal, still has his best years ahead of him, according to Steele.

“He can make any kind of save, he dominates the area and for me, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world today,” he said.

“Only Thibaut Courtois comes close to him in England but David is the best. He deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Peter Schmeichel.

“David, at the age of 27, is just getting into his prime and he’s going to get even better.”