Sir Alex Ferguson’s Premier League-winning former player has now revealed the ‘primary’ reason behind his decision to sign for one of Manchester United’s rivals.
The iconic 83-year-old former Manchester United manager led the Red Devils to all 13 of their Premier League titles during his remarkable reign at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson ushered in an incredible period of dominance for the Red Devils and the legendary Scot is considered one of the best managers of all time.
The ex-Red Devils head coach lifted the Premier League title with United for the final time in the 2012-13 campaign before Ferguson retired from management in 2013.
United have struggled to climb back to the top of English football and have failed to capture the Premier League title after Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford.
Ferguson’s incredible achievements at United included the former Aberdeen manager leading the Red Devils to their famous continental treble win in 1999.
Owen Hargreaves now reveals why he signed for Man City after his Man Utd spell under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford
Owen Hargreaves left Old Trafford in 2011 after his contract expired and the TNT Sports pundit decided to sign for Manchester City as a free agent.
The 44-year-old ex-Manchester United midfielder was limited to four appearances for Manchester City and he scored once for the Red Devils’ crosstown rivals.
Owen Hargreaves played for City in the club’s first Premier League title-winning season, but he made one league appearance and didn’t receive a winner’s medal.
The former City player left a sour taste in the mouth of United fans after he made the decision to make the switch to the Etihad following his Old Trafford exit.
Hargreaves has revealed that the “stint” at City did a lot for him “personally” and he was trying to climb “back” on his feet after “an awful time” in his playing career.
“Just to train and play football every day was a blessing, to be honest,” he told FourFourTwo magazine.
“I wasn’t fit enough to have the impact on the pitch that I would have liked, but I got myself back on my feet and trained hard. There was a great group of lads at the club – brilliant people, hungry for success.
“I still talk to many of that group. Our training games were very intense and I enjoyed myself.
“That period was primarily about trying to get back on my feet after an awful time. My dad always told me never to give up.
“That stint with City did a lot for me personally.”
How Owen Hargreaves ended up signing for Man City after his Old Trafford struggles under former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Owen Hargreaves played in 39 matches for United and he picked up two assists and scored twice during his time at Old Trafford after his move from Bayern Munich.
The former England international, who United signed in 2007 for a reported £17m fee, saw his spell at the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson plagued by injuries.
Patrick Vieira retired in 2011 ahead of City’s title-winning campaign and United’s rivals would also briefly lose Yaya Toure to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Roberto Mancini was City manager in 2011 and Hargreaves has revealed how his move to the Etihad came about after his transfer to West Brom fell through.
“I bumped into David Platt in a pub in Manchester; he was coaching at Man City and asked about my situation,” Hargreaves said.
“He was actually living just down the road from me, and so was Roberto Mancini – we were practically neighbours.
“That’s how the talks started. It’s good to have a plan in life, and it was never mine to sign for United’s biggest rivals, but sometimes life comes at you differently.”
Hargreaves lifted both the Champions League trophy and the Premier League title with United during the club’s famed 2007-08 season under Ferguson.
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