To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

One Missed Manchester United Transfer Shocked Gary Neville

One Missed Manchester United Transfer Shocked Gary Neville

Neville saw plenty of players come and go at United but he couldn't believe one player turned down Sir Alex Ferguson to move elsewhere.

Gary Neville has revealed there was one player Manchester United failed to sign that he couldn't believe had decided to turn them down.


Neville won the Premier League eight times with United, as well as winning two Champions League titles and numerous other cup competitions.

The full back saw the club sign many great players in his 20 years at club, although he was part of the incredible Class of 92 that the club didn't need to sign as they came through the academy.

Whilst the former full back witnessed many greats come through the doors at Old Trafford, and even tried to get Steven Gerrard to sign, he revealed that there's still one player he can't believe never made it to the club, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's attempts to sign him.

Carragher and Neville's ultimate transfer special,' the Sky pundit said that Alan Shearer's decision to go to Newcastle United from Blackburn Rovers 26 years ago had surprised him, as he felt the move to Manchester was already done.

"I thought we had him that summer," Neville said on the programme on Monday night.

"I just thought, past Euro 96, there's no way he's going to go to Newcastle from Blackburn.

Shearer was given a hero's welcome at St James' Park. Image: PA Images
Shearer was given a hero's welcome at St James' Park. Image: PA Images

"I had spoken to him. I think I lost the deal! I had gone to a Bryan Adams concert with him. I had spoken to him at Euro 96.

"I just thought there was no way he was going to turn us down. We had just won the double.

"I just thought there was no way he was not going to come to Manchester United and that was the one where I thought, 'How has he gone to Newcastle?'"

Shearer's goals at Newcastle made him a legend. Image: PA Images
Shearer's goals at Newcastle made him a legend. Image: PA Images

Shearer, who remains the Premier League's all time top scorer and won the league with Blackburn, was wanted by Fergie on two occasions.

The legendary Scot tried to bring him to Manchester when he was still at Southampton, before being beaten to the signing by Rovers, and then tried again before the striker chose his hometown club.

The Magpies were at the time Fergie's side's biggest rivals for the title, and Neville added that it wasn't a 'shock' that the England striker decided to join them.

"Newcastle, at the time, were unbelievable. Kevin Keegan was the manager. Obviously, we just pipped them to the title the year before so it wasn't a shock in that he was going to a club that was down here. He wasn't - he was going to a great club.

"I just thought we had him and that was the one I thought, 'He's a proper player. He'll make Newcastle a top team."

Paul Gascoigne was the other legendary England player who turned United down during Fergie's time at the club, and the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder even received a letter after doing so.

Gazza even revealed that he had initially told Fergie he was going to sign for United and when he didn't the former Aberdeen boss didn't talk to him for six years.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Sky Sports

Topics: Manchester United, Gary Neville, Premier League, Newcastle United, Alan Shearer