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Cape Town - Chelsea stalwart John Terry has revealed that former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him as a 14-year-old.
Ultimately he was not successful as Terry chose to sign for Chelsea and the rest, as they say, is history - four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League and 78 caps for England.
The player came from a family that supported United and he revealed how Ferguson made every effort to sign him.
He told The Observer: "I was Man United growing up. You know what it's like when you're a boy, you want to support the team that's winning everything. And my dad and granddad were Man United fans."
Terry added: "But my first day at Chelsea I knew that was the club I wanted to be at. I just loved it."
However, it could have been all so different had the centre-back signed for United in 1994/95. Ferguson had just won back-to-back league titles and was looking to build a new generation of stars.
Terry - then a holding midfielder - had been identified as a possible option for the Red Devils. He was invited to go and train with United during the school holidays. Ferguson was keen to land the young star as his potential and ability was clear for all to see.
"But Man United also approached me. I met Alex Ferguson - great to meet. During the school holidays I would go up to Manchester and train with their boys for two weeks, play a few games and come home."
