Pranav Nair
Sir Alex Ferguson regrets not signing Paul Gascoigne for Manchester United
Speaking to Gary Neville on LasbIble TV (h/t The Metro), Manchester United legend, Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he regrets not being able to sign Paul Gascoigne while at Old Trafford.
Gazza was not just one of the most enigmatic players of his generation but also amongst the most talented. England legend Gary Linekar even went on to claim Gascoigne was the most technically gifted player he has played with.
He was close to signing for Man United in the late-1980s but instead chose to join Tottenham Hotspur. Fergie believes the move would have been huge for the Red Devils and Gascoigne himself.
Ferguson was effusive in his praise of Gascoigne, who he claimed is the best English player since the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton. Unfortunately, Gazza never really fulfilled his potential and just an FA Cup to show from his time at White Hart Lane.
“I think he was the best English player since Bobby Charlton. I think he was a fantastic player.”
Gascoigne’s issues with drinking, mental health and injuries are well known and Ferguson believes he made a mistake moving to Tottenham. He would eventually go on to play for Lazio, Rangers and Everton among others.
“We had people there who would have taken care of him, particularly Bryan Robson who is fantastic with players.”
Gascoigne gave the legendary Scot his word that he would join the club from Newcastle back in 1988 after a lengthy conversation on the phone. Tottenham chairman Irving Scholar stole a march in negotiations by offering to buy a £120,000 house to Gascoigne’s parents. (h/t The Daily Mail)
The news infuriated Ferguson, who wrote Gascoigne a letter calling him a ‘silly boy’ for turning down the chance to develop as a player and a person at United.
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While Ferguson believes Gazza would have thrived at United, the player himself believes it may not have been so easy. In an earlier interview, he refuted Ferguson’s claims that he could have held his wild ways in check. (h/t The Daily Mail)
He remains adamant that his life would have turned out the same even if he had taken the opportunity to play at United.
Unfortunately, we will never know what might have been. For a player blessed with untold ability, his career never quite reached the heights it promised to.
