How Patrick Vieira Almost Joined Sir Alex Ferguson At Manchester United

A Surprise Meeting

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has opened up about how close he came to joining rivals Manchester United during his playing days. The former midfielder revealed that he held a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson to discuss a shocking transfer.

Vieira arrived at Arsenal in 1996 and spent nine highly successful years in north London. He won three league titles and captained the famous Invincibles team during the 2003-04 season. However, Manchester United were Arsenal's biggest rivals at the time, and Ferguson wanted to bring the French star to Old Trafford.

Ferguson's Dream Lineup

During their meeting, Ferguson shared his grand plans for the team. The legendary manager wanted to pair Vieira with his fierce midfield rival, Roy Keane.

According to Vieira, Ferguson wanted to play a midfield that featured Ryan Giggs on the left, David Beckham on the right, and Paul Scholes playing just behind striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. Vieira admitted that it was a very strong team, but he ultimately decided he could not make the move.

Vieira explained that he had to meet Ferguson out of respect because he was such an important figure in the Premier League. He also revealed that he had opportunities to join Real Madrid during his career.

Staying Loyal to Arsenal

Despite the tempting offer to join Manchester United, Vieira chose to stay with Arsenal. He explained that he was too happy in north London and felt a deep connection to the club, the fans, and his teammates.

Vieira said that he felt the love from everyone at Arsenal, and they were on the way to building something special. He eventually left the Gunners in 2005.

After leaving Arsenal, Vieira played for Juventus and Inter Milan before ending his playing career at Manchester City. He then moved into management, coaching teams like New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. He is now the head coach of Senegal.