Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has recalled how Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him to ‘tap up’ one legendary former player and convince him to sign for Manchester United.
Neville spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford and later became captain under Ferguson, with the United legend being a key locker room figure for him.
The 48-year-old former United right-back was fortunate to play alongside a star-studded roster of talent at the club, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, even Ferguson failed in his bid to sign certain legendary players for United, despite being keen to bring the best in class to Old Trafford.
Neville previously revealed that Ferguson played a key role in transfers at United and how the Red Devils legend only made a U-turn on his own rules for one exception.
The ex-United skipper has now opened up on one of Ferguson’s failed attempts to sign a Premier League legend and how he was recruited as part of the process.
Neville on signing Ferguson wanted
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville recalled the one time where Ferguson pushed to sign Steven Gerrard when the Liverpool legend was linked with a move to Chelsea.
Joined by Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane and Ian Wright for the conversation, Neville explained how he had to make a “helpless” plea to Gerrard.
Speaking on the Stick to Football show, he said: “I’ve just remembered when Sir Alex asked me to… I think Stevie’s told this in his book, hasn’t he?
“Where I went into his room with England and asked him to sign for United. I felt as though it was a little bit of a helpless sort of [plea].
“He was close to going to Chelsea, so basically, I was meeting up with England for the Euros and he rang me and said: ‘Look, it’s ambitious,’ he said, but I think his words were tell him, ‘I’ll go and fetch him and I’ll walk him back down the East Lancs,’ something like that. He said I’ll bring him.”
Gerrard’s response to Ferguson’s interest
Ferguson previously downplayed his interest in Gerrard and argued that the legendary former Liverpool midfielder was “not a top, top player.”
Gerrard, who is currently managing Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, hit back at the former United manager and claimed that he tried to sign him twice in the past.
However, Ferguson’s bid to land the 43-year-old former England star fell short and Neville admitted he “always” remembered Gerrard’s response to him.
“And I went to see Stevie and he was quite categoric pretty quickly,” Neville continued.
“I went in to see Stevie and he said, ‘Seriously, I wouldn’t get out of Liverpool and my family would never get out of Liverpool.’
“Those were his exact words to me, yeah, and I always remember that.”
Responding to Neville, Wright was in awe and said: “See, that man knows.”
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