Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero revealed that former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to bring him to the club twice. Del Piero famously remained with the Bianconeri during their stint in Serie B, despite having offers from a number of other European sides, captaining the club back to Serie A a season later. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, ‘I Pinturicchio’ revealed the details of the attempted move, saying:
“Did Alex Ferguson want to take me to United? Yes he did. I confirm that. When did he try? Before 2000, but actually even after. But don’t let me say any more than that or else…’.
Ferguson was a famous admirer of the former Juventus captain and speaking in 2019, he revealed Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville had pleaded with him to bring Del Piero to Manchester United after a Champions League match between the two clubs:
“Del Piero is the only one who I would’ve gone mad for. After a match between United and Juventus, in which he destroyed half of our defence, Giggs and Neville came to me and asked me to buy him at all costs, because someone like him would’ve made us win everything for decades.
“And so I contact the Juve representatives, and the lad’s agent. He refused even before listening to my proposal, telling me that Juve was the best place for him and, that while he respected Man United, he would never have been able to betray the black and white colours.
“A pity, because I never again saw someone like him. I courted him even just after Italy’s World Cup win [in 2006]. In that time, Real Madrid were also after him and, given the issues around Juventus at the time, I imagined that between us at United and the ‘galacticos’, there would be a fair auction to get him.
“And so I called him directly: ‘Alex, I’d like you at United’, I said. ‘You’ll be the star of the squad, and together we’ll win everything’. He laughed and replied: ‘Sir, you know that nothing has changed from all those years ago. Juve are facing difficult times, and I have to help them. I can’t be a coward’.
“In 2008, I saw him again and he greeted me with a hug. He apologised for refusing my offer. I put my hand on his shoulder and re-assured him, ‘you wanted to save Juventus, and you did it’. When someone asks me what player I always wanted to train, but never got the chance, I always say: Alessandro Del Piero.”
