“A champion on and off the field…”
Sir Alex Ferguson has named his biggest transfer regret at Manchester United and even revealed his phone conversation with the superstar forward.
Ferguson signed some of the best players during his legendary spell at Man United, recruiting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, among many others.
But some big names fell through the net, with one talent even prompting Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs into action.
Neville and Giggs approached Ferguson following a Champions League meeting against Juventus.
They were stunned by the performance of Alessandro Del Piero in that game, with Ferguson failing in his attempt to lure him to Old Trafford.
Alessandro Del Piero in action for Juventus against Manchester United. Image: Getty
“Del Piero is the only one who I would’ve gone mad for. After a Champion’s League match between United and Juventus, in which he destroyed half of our defence, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville came to me and asked me to buy him at all costs, because someone like him would’ve made us win everything for decades,” he said via Inside Sport.
“And so I contact the Juve representatives, and the lad’s agent. He refused even before listening to my proposal, telling me that Juve was the best place for him and, that while he respected Manchester United, he would never have been able to betray the black and white colors. A pity, because I never again saw someone like him,” he added.
“A champion on and off the field, I courted him even just after Italy’s World Cup win. In that time, Real Madrid were also after him and, given the issues around Juventus at the time, I imagined that between us at United and the Galacticos, there would be a fair auction to get him.”
Ferguson even revealed how his phone conversation with the Italian, who refused to leave Juve following their relegation after being found guilty of match-fixing.
“And so I called him directly, avoiding talking to Juventus: ‘Alex, I’d like you at United’, I said. ‘You’ll be the star of the squad, and together we’ll win everything. Don’t listen to Real Madrid, and come here’.
“He laughed and replied: ‘Sir, you know that nothing has changed from all those years ago. Juve are facing difficult times, and I have to help them. I can’t be a coward’.”
Despite Ferguson’s interest, Del Piero rejected a move to Man United and remained in Turin until 2012.
He left the Serie A giants for Australia, signing for Sydney FC then transferred to Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos before calling time on his stellar career.
Del Piero scored over 300 goals during his playing days and could have been a huge star in England’s top flight had he made the switch.
