“I never budged until that came along” - Sir Alex Ferguson names 3 clubs he rejected before joining Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he rejected three English clubs as he was intent on joining Manchester United. He said that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers were all interested in signing him.

Sir Alex Ferguson was at Scottish side Aberdeen back then, where he had won three league titles, among numerous other honors. He said that he had interest from three English clubs and spoke to Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald. The latter asked Ferguson to only leave for United.

In a recent interview on TNT Sports, Sir Alex Ferguson said (via The Sun):

"I said [to Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald] that maybe it was time for me to leave, blah, blah, blah, and he said to me 'don’t talk like that'. You should go only to one club – Manchester United. I never budged until that came long. When it came along, I couldn’t get there quick enough.

"I have to say there was a lot of trepidation about it. Travelling down that morning, in the plane with Martin Edwards and the lawyer Maurice Watkins, I was asking a lot of questions and I wasn’t getting all the answers. Wee Gordon Strachan used to phone me quite a lot and I didn’t get a great picture through that.

"I knew all the players, world-class names in many ways. I was determined to install something I did at Aberdeen and St Mirren, and that was to produce young players."

Ferguson went on to become the greatest Manchester United manager of all time and arguably the greatest Premier League manager as well. He won 13 league titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies, among numerous other honors.

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Manchester United legend slams Sir Alex Ferguson's removal from ambassadorial role

Sir Alex Ferguson was given the role of global ambassador role at Manchester United following his retirement in 2013. He earned millions per year from that role. However, the club's new minority owners INEOS have reportedly removed the Scotsman from the role as they look to cut some costs.

The move has been met with mixed reactions but club legend Eric Cantona was enraged as he wrote on Instagram:

"Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s**t!”

Cantona is widely regarded as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's best signings at Manchester United. He spent five years at the club, registering 81 goals and 62 assists in 184 games, winning four Premier League titles, among other honors.