‘Man Utd had chance to sign me but I chose Liverpool – this is why it wasn’t even close'

John Barnes was offered to Manchester United earlier helium made the determination to Liverpool successful 1987, with Sir Alex Ferguson turning down the accidental to motion the England icon

Liverpool fable John Barnes has opened up astir a regret Sir Alex Ferguson whitethorn harbour implicit not snapping him up for Manchester United.

A endowment revered crossed England, Barnes' aboriginal days were shaped astatine Stowe Boys Club earlier helium kicked disconnected an illustrious elder vocation astatine Sudbury Court. It wasn't agelong earlier Watford recognised his prowess successful 1981, with Barnes dazzling arsenic a near midfielder, boasting 64 goals successful 234 outings which yet caught the attraction of Liverpool.

In 1987, the Reds couldn't defy the promising prima and Barnes graced Anfield's transportation for 10 years, clocking up 406 appearances, netting 107 times and contributing 98 assists - each portion scooping 2 First Division titles and a slew of home silverware including the FA Cup, 3 Charity Shields and a Football League Cup.

Despite his Jamaican birthplace, Barnes had been a UK nonmigratory from property 12 and yet donned the Three Lions jersey successful 79 planetary clashes betwixt 1983 and 1995. Post-Liverpool, his stint astatine Newcastle United successful 1997 led him to his last nonrecreational bow astatine Charlton successful 1999.

But according to Barnes - speaking exclusively with Ladbrokes, Liverpool FC's authoritative betting spouse - determination might've been a section astatine United. He explained: "Was a determination to Manchester United ever truly adjacent to happening?

"Not astatine all; you person to remember, this was 1987... Liverpool were the champion squad successful the state - they were 1 of the champion teams successful the country. Everton were the 2nd champion squad successful the country, they'd conscionable won the league. Man United weren't the Man United of 1992/93, wherever everything started happening for them.

"So, if determination was a concern wherever Liverpool and Man United wanted maine - oregon wanted anybody - you were ever going to spell to Liverpool... it wasn't adjacent close. I didn't truly cognize thing astir it; Fergie said aboriginal connected that had they not person had Jesper Olsen, it would person been a possibility, to motion me.

"But, unfortunately, had helium person travel successful for me, and had Liverpool person travel successful for maine astatine the aforesaid time... it was conscionable ne'er going to happen. I mean, cipher would've done that, astatine that peculiar time. That's not to belittle Manchester United astatine all, but the determination successful 1987... you were ever going to spell to Liverpool.

"I've crossed paths with Fergie implicit the years, of course, but we've ne'er truly spoken astir it. There's truthful galore players that helium could person signed, and did - oregon didn't - sign... I'm nary antithetic to hundreds of players who either went to Man United, oregon didn't."

Ferguson, during his legendary 27-year tenure astatine Old Trafford, made immoderate bold transportation decisions, reportedly overlooking stars similar Zinedine Zidane successful '96 to instrumentality with Eric Cantona and missing retired connected David Silva, who joined rivals City for £24million successful 2010. The iconic manager besides recognised Frank Lampard's imaginable earlier his power to Chelsea successful 2001.

In his autobiography 'Red Glory', erstwhile United president Martin Edwards touched connected the concern surrounding Barnes. He wrote: "Graham Taylor rang Alex Ferguson to spot if helium wanted to instrumentality him earlier helium signed for Liverpool. Alex passed connected him due to the fact that it was his archetypal play astatine United, helium had Jesper Olsen successful his squad and helium wanted to spot whether Jesper would marque it."

Join our caller WhatsApp assemblage and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.