Arsenal icon Alan Smith has revealed that he was personally asked by Sir Alex Ferguson to join Manchester United before moving to North London.
Smith, 62, joined the Gunners from Leicester City in 1987 and scored 113 goals in 340 performances.
He scored famous in the title decision-making match of the historic first division between Arsenal and Liverpool in Anfield in 1989 in which the side of George Graham finished their 18-year-old waiting to be crowned champion.
However, it could have been very different if the striker had accepted an offer from Man Utd.
Smith with ex-team David Seaman on the Seaman says Podcast with Betway, Smith revealed that he received a phone call from Ferguson with regard to a move to Old Trafford.
He said: “I spoke with Alex Ferguson. I got a little interested.
“On a January found I still lived with my mother and mother and we looked at Coronation Street, I will always remember it.
“The phone rings in the hall and my mother picks him up and she says,” Alex Ferguson on the phone for you. ” I thought she had heard the name incorrectly.
“Alex had only been to United for about a year and they had a hard time. So it is not as if it was 'the Sir Alex' calling, but he was clearly a big name, he is the man of the man United.
“I went into the hall and spoke with him. He said he wanted me to wait until the summer when I had been a free agent.
“I said,” Mr. Ferguson, I'm sorry, but I have decided, I want to become a member of Arsenal. “
“Arsenal wanted to sign me on the deadline day, I had already spoken to them on a roundabout.
“It was a short conversation, I put down the phone and thought,” Did I do the right thing there, say no to the Manchester United manager? “
“But they really went without winning anything for four out of five years and Alex was close to getting the bag.”
After a spell of eight years with Arsenal, Smith decided to hang his boots in 1995.
He is now a co-commentator and expert for Sky Sports.
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