Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Ferdinand recalls Sir Alex Ferguson's desperate bid to sign Benzema at Man Utd

mirror.co.uk, 5 May 2021, 19:15
Rio Ferdinand was speaking ahead of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid, while Michael Owen also recalled Sir Alex Ferguson's attempt to sign the French striker

Rio Ferdinand has lifted the lid on how desperate Manchester United were to sign Karim Benzema, with Michael Owen revealing he was signed instead as a Sir Alex Ferguson's Plan B.

United went head-to-head with a Lyon side featuring the French striker back in 2008, earning a 2-1 aggregate Round of 16 win over the French side.

Benzema was on target in the first leg as the two teams played out a 1-1 draw - and Ferdinand has recalled the instant impression made by the Real Madrid forward that evening.

"Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign him after that game," said the former United defender speaking on BT Sport ahead of Chelsea's second leg with Los Blancos.

He added: "Sir Alex was speaking to him in the tunnel after the game and I remember some of their officials came and ushered him away. Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him.

"I played that game and, straight away, saw his movement. Beautiful footballer."

The Red Devils missed out on signing Benzema, who ended up joining Madrid the following year for £30million.

This missed opportunity saw Ferguson instead opt for Owen, who was informed by the Scot that his move only came about due to the Frenchman rejecting a move to Old Trafford.

"I only went to United because he chose Real Madrid," Owen told BT Sport.

"The first time I got a call off Sir Alex, he was dead honest. He said, 'We're trying to sign Benzema. If we don't get him, you're second choice'."

Despite this honest admission by the legendary United boss, Owen remained full of praise for the Madrid attacker.

"It's his variety of finishes that I like. He can use either foot and he's brilliant in the air. It's his clever movement that interests me."

Top News

19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Toulouse vs. Brest (Sunday, 8.00pm) Brest still have a chance to automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage next season when they conclude the Ligue 1 campaign against Toulouse on Sunday at Stadium de Toulouse. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sassuolo vs. Cagliari (Sunday, 11.30am) Running out of time to save their Serie A status, Sassuolo face a crucial six-pointer on Sunday, when they host relegation rivals Cagliari. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletic Bilbao vs. Sevilla (Sunday, 6.00pm) Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal vs. Everton (Sunday, 4.00pm) A glistening Premier League trophy will be ready and waiting at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, where victory for Arsenal over Everton could propel the Gunners to top-flight supremacy. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's Mason Greenwood is now the subject of interest from a Champions League finalist ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly joined Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign a highly-rated Championship head coach amid doubts over Mauricio Pochettino's future. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly struck a verbal agreement to sign a highly-rated Brazilian teenager for the summer of 2025. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Croatia Under-17s will kick off the European Under-17 Championship against Austria Under-17s at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tournament hosts Cyprus Under-17s will face Czech Republic Under-17s in Monday's European Under-17 Championship clash. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will once again be without the services of two key players for Sunday's La Liga clash against Villarreal. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that "the good times will come" for the Red Devils, with the Dutchman again hailing the club's fans for their support this season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round nine of the Norwegian Eliteserien sees struggling Kristiansund hosting high-flying SK Brann at the Nordmore Stadium on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Lorenzo can extend their winning run at Estadio Pedro Bidegain to three matches in all competitions when they host Lanus on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly keen on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and could activate a secret release clause of €70m (£60m) in his contract at Anfield. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serbia Under-17s will kick off the Under-17 European Championship in Monday's clash with Ukraine Under-17s in Paralimni. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has admitted that he has struggled to adapt to playing in the middle of the team's defence. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Denmark Under-17s will begin their European Under-17 Championship campaign against Wales Under-17s at the Dasaki Stadium in Achna, Cyprus. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it 10 La Liga wins in a row when they head to European-chasing Villarreal on Sunday night. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in Spain's top flight when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica are reportedly unlikely to allow Manchester United-linked Joao Neves to leave the club during this summer's transfer window unless his full €100m (£86m) release clause is met. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bruno Fernandes is reportedly demanding a new and improved contract at Manchester United in order to commit his future to the club. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Eder Militao is in his thinking when it comes to a starting role for the Champions League final. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women have won their fifth successive Women's Super League title in Emma Hayes's final season in charge thanks to a 6-0 crushing of Manchester United Women at Old Trafford. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that "nothing has changed" regarding his future amid claims that he could leave the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that "nothing has changed" regarding his future amid claims that he could leave the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Italian giants AC Milan are reportedly optimistic of winning the race for a highly-rated Serie A striker also on the radar of Arsenal and Manchester United. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will be looking to secure a top-six finish and qualify for European competition when they welcome top-10 hopefuls Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge for their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be crowned Premier League champions for a record fourth consecutive season if they beat West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in their final game of the 2023-24 season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to secure Europa Conference League football for next season, Manchester United travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in their final Premier League game of the 2023-24 season on Sunday.