Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson showed the ultimate class to one Red Devils cult hero after meeting him ahead of a proposed move to Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford as a manager in 2013 after Manchester United successfully captured their last Premier League title.
Considered one of the best managers of all time, the 82-year-old Scotsman engineered all 13 of United’s Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford.
Ferguson ushered in a period of dominance over English football with United and the legendary Scotsman enjoyed incredible success in his prolific managerial career.
The United legend led the club to two Champions League trophies, including the Red Devils becoming the first English team to complete a continental treble in 1999.
The Red Devils have struggled to return to the top of the Premier League since Ferguson’s departure from the Old Trafford hot seat.
But Ferguson has remained an ever-present figure at United and has often been spotted in the Old Trafford stands watching the Red Devils in action.
Ferguson’s encounter with Man Utd cult hero
Dimitar Berbatov has recalled his experience of meeting Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of his proposed move to Manchester United on deadline day in 2008.
The Red Devils had agreed to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham in a deal worth £30.75m, with Fraizer Campbell loaned out to Spurs as part of the deal.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the 43-year-old ex-United striker admitted that he crossed paths with Ferguson after leaving his place and was unsure what to ask him.
Berbatov said that Ferguson was class during their encounter, despite the trip to the Carrington training complex being like a “science fiction” story.
“I was shocked because it can be intimidating and especially for me, stepping out the plane and bam you see Sir Alex,” he said.
“I was like, what do I say, how do I address him, will I look stupid? I had all these questions in my head, but he was great. He took us to Carrington and the drive in the car was like science fiction.
“I didn’t even know what to say. It was a perfect day. Exhausting, but perfect, because I had worked so hard to get there.”
Berbatov snubbed one club for Man Utd
Dimitar Berbatov had been heavily linked with Manchester City in 2008 and United’s rivals had a bid of more than £30m accepted by Tottenham.
However, former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes missed out on the ex-Spurs star after Berbatov told his agent that he wanted to move to United instead.
“They wanted to sign me on the last day of the market,” Berbatov said.
“I told my agent ‘f**k off, we’re going to United.’ Because of the history, the prestige, the manager, the shirt.
“I never had any doubt that Old Trafford was the right decision.”
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