“We watch all Man United’s game because of them and I may join Man United in future because of them… Both of them are now persuading me to join them and I can’t wait”: Real Madrid’s star Vinicious Jr names TWO Man United’s stars who they always watch Premier League just because of them, including ONE new signing
It was the day after the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley, and Manchester United’s heads were still spinning from an evening on the Barcelona carousel, as Sir Alex Ferguson famously called it.
HBAgency
Ferguson came up with that phrase before the 2009 final in Rome, but two years later, Barcelona were even better. Their 3-1 win at Wembley was a complete performance, and their domination of the midfield was mesmerizing. “No one has given us a hiding like that,” the United manager said.
Rather than trying to find a way to turn the carousel off, Ferguson was considering constructing his own. He had an idea to upgrade his own midfield, so he picked up the phone and called Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
“The day after Manchester United lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley in 2011, my dad received a call from Sir Alex Ferguson. He wanted to sign Luka Modric,” Jamie Redknapp revealed in his Daily Mail column in 2018.
“Xavi and Iniesta had raised the bar for midfielders. The best had to be players who could take the ball off either foot, dribble and pass through the lines. Having seen just how impressive those two were against United, Sir Alex identified Modric as the player to take his team forward.”
Modric would have made a difference to a midfield that was more workmanlike than anything in that United side, but the biggest issue was the identity of his current club. Ferguson and chief executive David Gill had just about had their fill of dealing with Daniel Levy and Spurs.
This was three years after Dimitar Berbatov’s painfully protracted move from White Hart Lane to Old Trafford, and Ferguson was reluctant to keep dealing with Levy. He memorably detailed that transfer in his 2015 book, Leading.
“That whole experience was more painful than my hip replacement,” said Ferguson. The Scot was keen on Modric and with Paul Scholes retiring he made the Croat his top target.
Chelsea also pushed hard to sign Modric in the summer of 2011, having two bids rebuffed. He eventually stayed put at Tottenham for one more season. In that final campaign in north London, Ferguson heaped plenty of praise on Modric.
“Scholes and Modric are both intelligent footballers,” he said. “They both influence their teams as well so it is a reasonable comparison.
“I don’t think they are identical players but they have the same qualities in terms of controlling a game. Their passing consistency is good and the one thing people underestimate about Modric is that he has terrific stamina.”
In the summer of 2012, Modric finally left Tottenham, joining Real Madrid rather than United, who moved for Shinji Kagawa instead. A popular player at Old Trafford but not someone who could have reinvented the team in the way Modric could.
What’s more, according to Rio Ferdinand on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Modric was keen on coming to Old Trafford and making history in Manchester.
“I remember speaking to him,” said Ferdinand. “I said, ‘Are you leaving [Tottenham]?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to go’ but he wasn’t sure at the time where. I said, ‘Listen, you’ve got to come to United, man.”
“He said: Yeah, listen, I want to be the first Croatian to play for Man United. I want to be that guy, can we make it happen? But it didn’t happen.
“I spoke to David Gill and the manager [Sir Alex] at the time had already agreed with Shinji Kagawa I think it was – I think that was the year, I’m sure it was.”
In 2013 Modric said he had been flattered by United’s interest in him as he discussed his journey from Tottenham to Real Madrid and his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti.
“Ancelotti wanted me already,” he said. “One year ago at PSG and in 2011 at Chelsea. But then Andre Villas-Boas came and Tottenham did not want to give me up.
“I also knew of the interest of the United and even if the transfer did not materialise, the public appreciation of a great like Sir Alex is a big pride for me.”
Had Ferguson and Gill decided they had the stomach for the fight in 2011, then perhaps they could have landed Modric. Had they done so, he might still be running that midfield now.
A dozen years after his move to Madrid, he made history with Los Blancos on Saturday night, becoming the oldest player to ever play for the club at 39 years and 40 days. Six Champions League victories and four La Liga titles are among 27 major trophies at the Bernabeu, not to mention the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Related
“That particular Man United’s player is better than Kelvin de Bruyne, He’s the best midfielder of this generation…I wish to coach him”: Pep Gaurdiorla says Man United has a player who’s better than Kelvin de Bruyne as he regrets not having such generational talent in his team
September 16, 2024
In “Football News”
“I have always said it, I’m so unlucky not to have him during my time at the Club… He’s young but damm, he’s so good”: Sir Alex Ferguson names ONE Man United current Man United’s star who he would have love to coach during his time
October 18, 2024
In “Football News”
“Man United is slowly becoming a retirement house for unserious players…Therefore I’ve ordered them to sell the entire squad with the exception of only two players ”: Sir Alex Ferguson approves the sale of the entire Man United squad with the exception of TWO exceptional players as he hail the TWO phenomenal players
July 29, 2024
Similar post
TagsManchester united
Google News
Facebook X LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram
Photo of Hussein
Hussein
Website
Click To Comment
Related Articles
(4-3-3) Manchester United line up under Thomas Tuchel as Board set to finally announce the arrival of the German Tactician after the board meeting today
2 weeks ago
‘Regardless of our performance I still respect them ‘:Erik ten Hag praises three ‘very good’ Man Utd players after 1-0 win against Luton
November 11, 2023
I know Muhammed Salah is my teammate but no disrespect I must say the truth’: Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold says £110mMan United star is the toughest opponent He has ever faced in football
February 22, 2024
‘They’re not contributing anything to the team,they need to be sold this January’: Erik ten Hag criticises two Manchester United players after win against Newport today
January 28, 2024
Deal signed: Paperworks and official announcement soon, Manchester United set to complete first summer transfer in coming days
June 25, 2024
Negotiations advanced: Man united have won the race to sign ‘World class’ defender who has played with many of the best players in Europe- Player wants new experience and his club are willing to sell ASAP- Fabrizio Romano confirmed
July 29, 2023
“He’s the best signing of my career it his teammates are not no giving him what he need to succeed”: Erik ten Hag blames Man United’s players over his best signing ever’s goal drought
4 weeks ago
Bid made: Man Utd make first move to sign 23-goal star, £86m deal could be agreed
June 20, 2023
“I have decided to let him join Man United since he has the guts to threaten me but let it be known that I’m not responsible if he the club ruined his career”: Club Manager finally give up on keeping £61m Man united transfer target after the star requested for transfer by January multiple times
1 week ago
BREAKING NEWS: PGMOL finally bans Referee that officiated Man United vs Brighton game due to His costly mistakes,New decision on the disallowed goal revealed today
September 1, 2024
GOAL CANCELLED: The English FA has cancelled Brighton’s goal against Arsenal which is against the new FIFA rules- Arsenal awarded THREE points
September 4, 2024
Deal close – Manchester United now prepare decisive £42.8million offer, today, to secure signing
July 6, 2023
Popular
Recent
Comments
Cheated Arsenal? “DAYLIGHT ROBBERY”: REFEREE FINALLY reveals what he told ARSENAL PLAYERS after FOUR PENALTIES were not awarded
March 4, 2023
I NEARLY CRIED: Joe Willock says he nearly cried seeing after what 23-year-old Arsenal player did yesterday
January 23, 2023
‘I want EMIRATES return’- Another Arsenal player who left Emirate because of small issue He had with Arteta is now pleading with the board to give Him a second chance to join by January in other for Him to help Arsenal win the premier League
1 week ago
Breaking News: Gunners complete summer transfer , Arteta tags it a “masterclass” with Arsenal swoop for £265k per week “monster”
September 6, 2022
“Winning the League”- Arsenal fans go crazy as Gunners claim 3-1 victory against Spurs in the north London derby.
October 1, 2022
Trending Posts
As a professional coach, Arteta shouldn’t be doing this, If I’m to be the Club owner I could have sacked Arteta long before now because it seems He like managing Average players, because I don’t understand how you will expect to win league with this type of player’, Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klop warns Arteta to sell £70m player in January to avoid bottling the league again
47 mins ago
(4-3-3) Manchester United line up under Jurgen Klop as the German Tactician set to take over as Man United Coach after latest INEOS decision
1 hour ago
“I have analysized Chelsea’s game vs Liverpool, The blues really tried but that particular player let them down…If Maresca starts benching him then they can still win Premier League this season”: Man City coach Pep Gaurdiorla names ONE bug name at Chelsea who needs to be benched if they club really wants to win Premier League this season
2 hours ago
(4-3-3) Nwaneri Decision, Sterling starts”, Predicted Arsenal line up vs Shakhtar Donetsk as Arteta vows to revenge last premier league defeat
2 hours ago
Copyright © 2024, All Rights Reserved | RealSport
Home About us Contact us Privacy Policy
X
YouTube
RSS
Back to top button
Leave a Reply