Pranav Nair
Sir Alex Ferguson admits his regret at not signing Paul Gascoigne for Manchester United
According to UTD Podcast (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United legend, Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his regret at being unable to sign Paul Gascoigne during his time at Old Trafford.
The former English international won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 1988 and looked poised to swap Newcastle United for Old Trafford. Having already promised Ferguson that he would join the club, Gascoigne appeared to be on his way to the Theatre of Dreams.
Ferguson, who was then holidaying in Malta found to his horror that Gascoigne had instead moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a then-record £2.2 million transfer fee.
The Red Devils legend openly admits that Gazza was the one that got away. One of the most gifted players of his generation, the Englishman could have helped accelerate United’s ascent to the summit of English football.
“In reality, you have to say, there’s only one that always comes to my mind and that’s Gascoigne.”
Unfortunately, Gazza never really fulfilled his potential and had just an FA Cup to show from his time at White Hart Lane. He would eventually go on to play for Lazio, Rangers and Everton among others.
Gascoigne’s issues with drinking, mental health and injuries are well known. Having a hard taskmaster such as Ferguson could have helped him. The Scot believes Gascoigne missed out on more success in his career by snubbing United.
“I’m not saying he didn’t have a good career but he would have had a better career with us.”
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.
Whether that would have been the case, we will never know. For a player blessed with untold ability, his career never quite reached the heights it promised to.
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Ferguson had earlier called Gascoigne the best talent to come out of England since Bobby Charlton, not small praise at all. Unfortunately, it was not to be and United would miss out on a potential world-beater.
