MIDDLESBROUGH legend Fabrizio Ravanelli has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were just 24 hours too late to secure his signature in 1997.
The white-haired Italian also admitted that he was desperate to join Manchester United that summer, but the move was never forthcoming.
Ravanelli netted 31 goals in his one memorable season at MiddlesbroughCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Ravanelli had been in the form of his life on Teesside – netting 31 times in a thrilling Boro team including fellow imports Juninho and Emerson.
Despite the flair and skill shown by their foreign signings, a luxury much rarer in those days, problems at the back saw Bryan Robson’s side relegated from the Premier League.
And with a World Cup just around the corner, Ravanelli couldn’t stick around for second tier football.
He told The Athletic: “I was very close to joining Liverpool and Tottenham. I tried for one month over the possibility with my agent to sign for Manchester United but it did not happen.
“But Liverpool was a real opportunity. The Liverpool manager Roy Evans called me when I was on holiday in the summer and said he wanted me to join the club. I said, ‘OK, no problem.’
“After, I have no idea why, it did not happen. Liverpool, at that moment, I think it would have been a great move for me. I wanted to leave Middlesbrough because I had to play in the top flight and Middlesbrough had been relegated.
Before leaving Middlesbrough, I received a call from Alan Sugar, the Tottenham chairman. He said to me, ‘Please come in to Tottenham, please come in to Tottenham.’
Fabrizio Ravanelli
“I needed to be in a big league because we had a World Cup the next year in the summer of 1998. If it was not for the World Cup, I would have stayed there [in the second division], for sure.
“Before leaving Middlesbrough, I received a call from Alan Sugar, the Tottenham chairman. He said to me, ‘Please come in to Tottenham, please come in to Tottenham.’
“But I was literally in the taxi to take the flight to Marseille. If this call had arrived one day earlier, I am sure I would have been in London and signed for Tottenham.
“It is a shame because I liked the Tottenham team. They had Teddy Sheringham, a quality player, and they had Sol Campbell behind. They or Liverpool would have been the same for me.”
Ravanelli moved to Ligue 1, but was to return to English football four years later, with Derby County.
The former Juventus star continued: “Derby had Stefano Eranio, who had played for Milan and I played with him for Italy. He convinced me to join Derby. I had won the Italian league with Lazio and everything was OK.
Alan Sugar was 24 hours too late to bring Ravanelli to SpursCredit: PA:Press Association
“But I had this possibility to return to England and for me, England was the best football in the world. It took only one second to decide. When one possibility arrives to take a job in England, I go, because it is the best.”
Ravanelli has dipped his toe into management himself, with stints at Ajaccio and Arsenal Kiev.
But could he one day return to The Riverside to manage his beloved Boro?
He’s not ruling it out.
“I have managed at Ajaccio in France and Arsenal Kiev in Ukraine. I would love to manage again and my agent, Craig Honeyman, is based in England. In life, there are many surprises. Why not?
“My heart is in Middlesbrough. When I arrived there, I remember the Italian flag at the Riverside, ‘Welcome Fabrizio.’ They were fantastic with me.
“I would want to do the same fantastic job as a manager as I did as a player when I scored many goals. I don’t know if I could take one day the management with Boro. But one day, it would be the best thing if I could come back to Boro.”
Tottenham’s Jimmy Greaves scores terrific team goal in5-1 drubbing of Manchester United in 1965
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
