Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he wanted to sign one “lethal” legendary former striker during his time at Old Trafford, only to miss out to one of Manchester United’s rivals.
The former Manchester United manager had a star-studded roster of legendary ex-strikers at the club, including Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Andy Cole.
Sir Alex Ferguson was known for wanting the best in class at Old Trafford, with the United legend doing everything in his power to sign the best players for the club.
During his prolific spell at Old Trafford, the 82-year-old Scotsman enjoyed incredible success and hoovered up the major silverware as United manager.
The former United boss lifted 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups and four League Cups before his retirement in 2013.
Ferguson has opened up about his time at Old Trafford after his retirement, including the three underrated players he managed at the Premier League club.
Despite his success in transfer windows, Ferguson failed in signing certain targets and the Scot even named the one legendary former footballer he wanted to manage.
READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed he only managed four ‘world-class’ players in his Man United career
Ferguson on striker he wanted at Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was well known for his elite striking options at Manchester United and they played a key part in his legendary teams of the past at Old Trafford.
Both Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke forged a famous strike partnership at United and are fondly remembered as core members of the iconic treble-winning side in 1999.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, meanwhile, was a fan favourite at Old Trafford and widely regarded among his former teammates for his lethal finishing ability.
Irrespective of his legendary strikers at United, Ferguson revealed that he wanted to sign Fernando Torres before Liverpool made a stunning move for him.
Fernando Torres came through the academy at Atletico Madrid and made a name for himself at the La Liga club, with the Spaniard catching the eye of Ferguson.
The 40-year-old former striker left Atletico Madrid in 2007 and completed his transfer to Anfield, with Torres thriving under former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
Torres, who retired from football in 2019, found success on the international stage after lifting two European Championships and a World Cup with Spain.
The 2010 World Cup winner was at the peak of his goalscoring power at Liverpool, with Torres scoring an impressive 81 times in 142 appearances for the Reds.
Torres left Anfield without any major silverware and moved to Premier League side Chelsea in 2011 for a then-British record transfer fee of £50m.
Despite lifting a Champions League, a Europa League and an FA Cup, the Spain legend was a shadow of his former self and struggled to replicate his scintillating Liverpool form at Chelsea.
What Sir Alex Ferguson said about Fernando Torres
Speaking in his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson described former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Torres as a player who had a “touch of evil” and was “very talented.”
The former Aberdeen and United boss insisted that Torres was Liverpool’s best striking option – at that time – since Michael Owen or Reds legend Robbie Fowler.
“Torres was a very, very talented individual,” Ferguson said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“We watched him many times and tried to sign him when he was 16. We expressed our interest two years before he joined Liverpool, but we always felt that our contact with him would end only in him receiving an improved contract at Atletico Madrid.
“We watched him in many youth tournaments and always fancied him. He was ingrained in the fabric at Atletico, so I was surprised Liverpool were able to prise him away. Benitez’s Spanish connection must have helped.
“Torres was blessed with great cunning: a shrewdness that was borderline Machiavellian [sic]. He had a touch of evil, though not in a physical sense, and he had that total change of pace.
“In a 45-yard sprint he was no faster than several Liverpool players, but he had that change of pace, which can be lethal.
“He had a fine physique: A striker’s height and frame. And he was Liverpool’s best centre forward since Owen or Fowler.”
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