Pranav Nair
Rio Ferdinand reveals that Thiago Alcantara was keen to move to Manchester United
Speaking on Vibe with Five (h/t The Metro), Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Thiago Alcantara was keen on moving to Old Trafford.
The Spanish international spent a number of years at Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is amongst the finest technicians in the game. The Red Devils are long-term admirers of the 30-tear-old, having been keen on him since 2013.
While we may have missed out, Thiago certainly appears to have eyed a move to Old Trafford. Ferdinand admitted that the player contacted him to ask if he could put in a good word at the Theatre of Dreams.
“Before Thiago left Barcelona he called me.”
It was however not to be, as then manager David Moyes and Ed Woodward turned down Thiago’s advances. The club eventually ended up signing Marouane Fellaini from Everton.
“He said to me, ‘I would like the opportunity to come to Man United, is there anybody that I could or you could speak to see the interest?”
Thiago was given Ferdinand’s number by Spanish teammate David de Gea. While Ferdinand did present the midfielder’s case to the United hierarchy, they had their eyes on other targets and passed on making a move.
“So I spoke to the people at the club… Moyes, it might have [also] been Woodward, I mentioned it. [They replied], ‘no, we’re already down the line with a couple of other signings, it’s fine.”
He eventually waited for 24 hours and then chose to join Bayern Munich instead. It is a testament to the mismanagement that followed Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign that we let a player of Thiago’s calibre move elsewhere. The Spaniard would establish himself as one of the best midfielders in world football at the Allianz Arena.
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Thiago would eventually arrive on English shores seven years after leaving Barcelona. However, he signed for our arch-rivals Liverpool, who are now enjoying the exploits of the talented Spaniard. The veteran endured a difficult start to life at Anfield but came into his own as the season went on. There is every chance that he could develop into a key player for Jurgen Klopp’s side next season.
