Manchester United legend Gary Neville has opened up on two all-important transfer rules that Sir Alex Ferguson surprisingly broke during his time at Old Trafford.
Neville has candidly talked up his time under Ferguson after his prolific playing career, saying he was one of three locker room leaders for the ex-United manager.
The Sky Sports pundit also praised the profound impact that Ferguson had on people and how one ex-United player is the living embodiment of his teachings.
Ferguson was known for his no-nonsense approach during his legendary 26-year career at Old Trafford and his commanding presence and influence over United.
The 82-year-old Scotsman summoned United players to his office for one of two reasons and made only one exception for someone to make fun of him at the club.
Ferguson, who called it time on his career in 2013, played a key part in transfers that would happen at United and brought several talented players to Old Trafford.
However, even the iconic Scot missed out on legendary players during his time at United, despite Ferguson doing everything in his power to try and sign them.
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Neville reveals Ferguson broke his transfer rules
Ferguson enjoyed incredible success in the dugout and in the transfer market, with the United legend signings the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Cantona.
The former Aberdeen manager, who claimed that he managed only four world-class players at United, wouldn’t necessarily consult his United players over his signings.
However, Neville admitted that Ferguson broke his aforementioned position over one signing and even asked his players for “information” before making a move for him.
Ferguson snapped up Louis Saha for £12.8m from Fulham in the 2004 January transfer window, with the United legend calling him an “exciting talent” at the time.
Neville revealed that Ferguson had consulted United’s players about the French former striker, with all of them holding the same position on Saha.
“Sir Alex never asked us which players we should sign or never asked us information about players he was going to sign,” he told Sky Sports (via the Manchester Evening News).
“But after we played Fulham one time in the FA Cup, he actually asked us as defenders, would we sign Louis Saha? We all said ‘yes’ straight away.”
Rio Ferdinand in awe at Saha’s quality
Saha spent four years at United and showed the exact quality that Ferguson had praised him for, but the Frenchman was plagued with injuries in his career.
Despite injuries hindering his run at Old Trafford, Saha is thought of highly by his ex-United teammates and they were well aware of the threat he could pose to teams.
Rio Ferdinand, much like Neville, previously said that “only injuries” stopped Saha from “exploding” and hailed the ex-United striker as an “absolutely crazy player.”
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE in 2022, he said: “Shout out to Louis, I love him. What a player. He actually [was] in training he was levels.
“I remember Nemanja Vidic saying, ‘Louis Saha, woah, does it get harder than this?’
“He is the hardest player I have played against. He used to be a madness. He was a joke.
“Only injuries stopped him exploding and being an absolutely crazy player for Man United.”
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