Arsenal hero Alan Smith has revealed he could have joined Manchester United as an alternative of the Gunners and even spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson a couple of move to Old Trafford.
Smith made a big impact at Arsenal after joining from Leicester City in 1987 and was the club’s top goalscorer for 4 successive seasons, netting over 100 goals in total.
The ex-England striker helped Arsenal win two league titles within the space of three years and in addition lifted the FA Cup and League Cup during his eight-year spell at Highbury.
A winner of two Golden Boot awards, Smith remains to be much-loved at Arsenal and regarded considered one of the club’s biggest goalscorers, only surpassed by the likes of Thierry Henry and Ian Wright.
In a distinct world Smith could have never played for the Gunners and would have ended up at Manchester United had legendary manager Sir Alex had his way.
Fergie personally phoned Smith in an try and persuade him to affix the Red Devils but was thwarted because the striker had his heart set on a move to north London.
Almost 40 years on, Smith is greater than completely happy together with his selection, insisting he had a ‘great time’ at Arsenal, but admits he questioned on the time whether it was smart snubbing United and Fergie.
Ferguson had only been at Old Trafford for a yr when he pushed to sign Smith and overcame a difficult begin to his reign to ascertain himself as arguably the best manager in history, guiding Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles, nine domestic cups and two Champions League trophies.
Speaking on the Seaman Says podcast with Betway, Smith said: ‘I spoke to Alex Ferguson. I used to be getting a little bit of interest.
‘One January evening, I used to be living with my mum and pop still and we were watching Coronation Street, I’ll at all times remember it.
‘The phone goes within the hall and my mum picks it up and she or he says, “Alan, it’s Alex Ferguson on the phone for you”. I assumed she misheard the name.
‘Alex had only been at United for a couple of yr and so they were struggling. So it’s not prefer it was “the Sir Alex” calling but he was obviously an enormous name, he’s the Man United manager.
‘I went into the hall and spoke to him. He said he wanted me to attend until the summer after I would have been a free agent.
‘I said, “Mr Ferguson, I’m sorry but I’ve made up my mind, I need to affix Arsenal”.
‘Arsenal desired to sign me on deadline day, I had already spoke to them in a roundabout way.
‘It was a brief conversation, I put the phone down and thought, “have I done the best thing there, saying no to the Manchester United manager?”
‘But they went 4 of 5 years really without winning anything and Alex was near getting the sack.
‘Arsenal won the league in my second season and we had a superb time so I made the best selection. Nevertheless it’s a chance, joining the best club at the best time.’
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