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      Seven Liverpool flops who become success stories, including Peter Gulacsi and England ace Conor Coady

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      LIVERPOOL have had an endless list of stars play for them through the years.And while some have been hits during their time at Anfield, many have only made their name elsewhere.
      Coady was once on the books of Liverpool before becoming an England starCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The likes of Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen all quit the Reds in their prime.
      But there are other players the likes of Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier allowed to leave before they were household names.
      We take a look at seven of the biggest frustrations for Liverpool fans in Premier League history…
      CONOR COADY
      Coady played just one PL game for the Reds but is now in England’s squadCredit: Reuters
      Coady, 30, joined Liverpool in 2005, aged just 12 before working his way through the youth ranks.
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      Despite his obvious potential, the England star made just two appearances for the Reds – and just one in the Premier League.
      After a successful loan spell at then-League One side Sheffield United in 2013-14, Coady was sold to Huddersfield that summer.
      After playing in 45 of the Terriers’ 46 Championship games, Coady joined Wolves after a single season.
      The centre-back helped them gain promotion to the Premier League and even obtain European football, before returning to Merseyside on loan at Everton.
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      Coady made his England debut against Denmark in 2020, earning the man of the match award in the process.
      And he was included in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad, though failed to make an appearance.
      PETER GULACSI
      Peter Gulacsi never played a competitive game for Liverpool and is now a star at RB LeipzigCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Hungarian goalkeeper, 32, spent six years at Liverpool – one on loan and then five after signing permanently.
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      But Gulacsi never played for the Reds – more often than not acting as their second or even third-choice keeper, behind the likes of Pepe Reina and Brad Jones.
      Gulacsi was loaned to Hereford, Tranmere and Hull before being sold to RB Salzburg in 2013.
      After two impressive years in Austria, the goalkeeper moved to the German Bundesliga with giants RB Leipzig.
      Gulacsi has spent eight years at Leipzig after quickly becoming their No1, helping them mount a charge for the league title AND Champions League.
      Gulacsi has played 284 times for the Germans and is still going strong.
      RAHEEM STERLING
      Raheem Sterling left Liverpool as a good player with raw potential – but now he’s a global superstarCredit: Reuters
      Sterling, 28, signed for Liverpool in 2010 after seven years at QPR, aged just 15.
      He made headlines a year later when he scored FIVE in a 9-0 youth team win over Southend.
      Sterling broke into the first-team in 2012 and spent just over three seasons in the squad.
      While Sterling was arguably already a ‘star’ during his final season at Liverpool, he was still very raw.
      Even the most-ardent of Reds fans must concede the winger has gone from strength-to-strength since joining Manchester City.
      Since leaving Liverpool without a trophy, Sterling has helped Pep Guardiola’s side win three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four League Cups.
      Sterling joined Chelsea last summer and has also played a starring role for England in the last three major tournaments.
      ALVARO ARBELOA
      Arbeloa quit Liverpool in 2009 and became a first-team regular at Real MadridCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Spanish right-back, 40, only spent two seasons at the club – sharing minutes with Steven Finnan in his first.
      In 2008-09, Arbeloa was Liverpool’s undisputed first-choice, but was quickly pinched by Real Madrid.
      Arbeloa went on to spend seven years at the Bernabeu – becoming a regular for Spain’s national team in the process.
      The right-back played 233 times for Real, winning the LaLiga title and two Champions League crowns.
      Arbeloa earned 56 international caps, helping his team win THREE straight tournaments – the Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
      And he retired in 2017 after a brief spell at West Ham, where he made three appearances.
      IAGO ASPAS
      Aspas was a laughing stock at Liverpool but became a Spain international after leavingCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The Spanish forward, 35, is arguably one of Liverpool’s all-time biggest flop signings.
      Aspas played just 14 times in the Premier League – failing to score a single goal.
      He will also go down in footballing folklore for his horror corner kick in the 2013-14 title-defining defeat to Chelsea.
      Aspas left the club after just one season, moving to Sevilla, before re-joining boyhood club Celta Vigo the following year.
      He has since scored 143 times in just 290 games – while earning his first 18 Spain caps.
      To rub salt into the wound, Aspas even scored in the 2-2 draw with England in 2016.
      Aspas was part of the Spain squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      But he did not make the plane for Euro 2020, where Spain lost in the semis to eventual winners Italy.
      SUSO
      Suso was frozen out at Liverpool after 14 PL games in his debut season with the first-teamCredit: Getty
      Suso, 29, joined Liverpool’s youth ranks from Cadiz in 2010, before stepping up to the first-team within two years.
      After 14 Premier League appearances in his first season, Suso was loaned out to Almeria the following season.
      He was then sold to AC Milan with very few Liverpool fans thinking much of it – especially after he was loaned off to Genoa in his second season having played just five times in his debut year.
      But since 2016, Suso has become a star, turning himself into a regular at the San Siro for three-and-a-half seasons, before joining Sevilla.
      Suso has scored seven goals in 103 games from the right wing for Sevilla.
      And he helped them win the Europa League in 2020.
      DANNY INGS
      Danny Ings has become of the of the league’s most-feared forwards since leaving LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ings, 30, joined Liverpool in 2015 with a reputation for being one of England’s top young talents.
      But in four years at Anfield, Ings played just 14 times in the Premier League due to injuries.
      Jurgen Klopp always insisted he was a huge fan of Ings.
      But ultimately he decided it was best for the player to sell him to Southampton in 2019 following a year-long loan on the south coast.
      Ings netted 46 goals in 100 games during his three years with the Saints.
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      The striker then joined Aston Villa for £25million and scored 14 goals before a £15m switch to West Ham in the January transfer window. More

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      Roy Keane picks Virgil Van Dijk as only Liverpool player to get into Man Utd’s treble-winning team from 1999

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      ROY KEANE believes Virgil van Dijk would be the only Liverpool star from their 2019-20 season to break into Manchester United’s treble-winning side.The former midfielder, now 51, was an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team that won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1998-99.
      Roy Keane would only select Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool’s 2019-20 team to get into Manchester United’s treble winners side
      The Dutch star got the nod over Ronny Johnsen to partner Jaap Stam in defenceCredit: Rex Features

      But despite Liverpool now being one of the biggest forces in the Premier League, he reckons Van Dijk is the single player who could improve that team.
      Keane and Jamie Carragher selected their combined XIs on Monday Night Football in February 2020 from Liverpool’s 2019-20 squad and United’s 1998-99 team.
      And they certainly had a few differing opinions – but did at least agree on Van Dijk replacing Ronny Johnsen.
      Carragher said: “I don’t think it’s a big decision, put Van Dijk in next to [Jaap] Stam. But who’s the best out of those two?”

      Keane concurred: “I’m a big fan of Van Dijk. The guy’s a machine, but Jaap was a machine, Jaap was fantastic.
      “Van Dijk [is] a touch better on the ball. The two of them together you can’t imagine conceding too many goals.”
      Both former Prem stars picked Peter Schmeichel in goal with fellow United heroes Jaap Stam, Denis Irwin, David Beckham, Keane himself – despite by his own admission being a ‘very average player’ – Paul Scholes and Dwight Yorke.
      And the pair also opted for Liverpool’s colossus Van Dijk to partner Stam at the heart of the defence.

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      DISAGREEMENTS
      But it was at right-back and in attack they struggled to agree.
      The Irishman opted for former team-mate Ryan Giggs on the left with Andy Cole up top alongside Yorke – Carragher, meanwhile, decided to bring in Mo Salah and now-Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane to form a deadly front three.
      Keane was left stunned when Carragher said: “Giggs is not getting in my team. Judging him on the 1999 season, do you know how many goals he scored that season?
      “I think Mane is the best left-sided winger in the world. Giggs, one of the best, but I don’t think at any stage he was the best.”
      Giggs managed three league goals in the treble-winning campaign and Keane refused to leave the Welshman out.
      Jamie Carragher opted for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in his team
      He added: “Giggs did it year in, year out. Look what Giggsy did in the semi-final [of the FA Cup], tell me another player on this planet that could’ve done what he did against Arsenal.
      “The key to me is being a consistent player. I’ve got loyalty towards Giggsy, I don’t know Mane.”
      Keane eventually selected Gary Neville at full-back – not just because he gets Salford tickets for him – while Carragher snubbed his Sky Sports colleague, favouring Liverpool sensation Trent Alexander-Arnold instead.
      The ex-United man added: “I’d bring Van Dijk in, maybe the right-back, but leave the rest, 4-4-2. If they go on and win the treble this year, we’ll have a different conversation.”
      Liverpool didn’t win a historic treble, though they did claim their first top-flight title since 1990.
      The pair both wanted Keane in their team, despite the Irishman himself confessing he was a ‘very average player’Credit: Getty – Contributor
      The former Premier League stars selected their teams on Monday Night Football back in 2020Credit: Sky Sports More

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      Former Man Utd star Alan Smith says he struggles to walk 17 years after John Arne Riise’s shot broke his leg in FA Cup

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      FORMER England striker Alan Smith reveald he struggles to walk 17 years after a John Arne Riise free-kick broke his leg.The ex-Manchester United hitman suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle when blocking the Liverpool defender’s shot during a FA Cup fifth-round clash against Liverpool at Anfield in 2006.
      Alan Smith spent three years at Manchester United and suffered a gruesome broken leg in 2006Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Credit: PA:Press Association
      Smith has revealed that he is still struggling with his injury 12 years later
      He was stretchered off on gas and air before being sidelined for monthsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Sir Alex Ferguson described the incident – which left Smith with “about ten pins” in his ankle – as one of the worst injuries he had seen.
      Smith, now 42, made his comeback for United seven months later after the horrific injury and was still playing for League Two side Notts County until 2018.
      And that year, Smith admitted he still suffered from the consequences.
      The 19-cap England international said: “I knew with the injury it would be touch and go whether I could carry on playing – the surgeon said that.
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      “It would have been easier to walk away and people remember you as a top Premier League player.
      “But I didn’t want that, because I loved playing football. Your love of it makes you go through the pain barrier.
      “Most of people I have played with, and managers, have respected me for staying in football when it would have been easy to walk away.
      “But I dropped down to the Championship, dropped down to League One and dropped down to League Two.
      “Loads of people would say to me, ‘Why I am bothering?’ Whether I was earning £500-a-week or nothing, if people felt I could still contribute I wanted to keep playing.”
      Smith continued to the Mirror: “The injury made me a better person after doing so well so young.
      “I learnt at any time, football can be over. I am lucky through sheer grit and determination I carried on playing.
      “The good people I met lower down the leagues probably drove me on to stay in football longer. But by the end, the day-to-day training was doing more harm than good.
      A free-kick from John Arne Riise caused the injury
      Smith dropped three leagues down in 2012 to Milton Keynes and Notts CountyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Smith started his career with Leeds and scored in his first-team debut against Liverpool, aged 18Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “I couldn’t compete at a level I felt I could easily before. I get out of bed and can’t walk properly, my ankle is stiff all the time.
      “I went for a run in the summer and managed to do a couple of miles but stopped and started walking because my ankle was hurting. I went back last month and the surgeon said, ‘I don’t want you doing any straight-line running’, just because it will damage the joint.
      “It is always difficult to walk away but when you see someone and they don’t want you running, you know it is the right decision. I have no regrets. For me, I see retiring early being the easy option.”
      Smith started his career at Leeds and then joined Man Utd in 2004 for £7million.
      He then went on to enjoy a spell at Newcastle three years later, making 84 appearances.
      In 2012, Smith dropped down the divisions with MK Dons and Notts County.
      After retiring following his release from Notts County, he applied for a US visa so that he could move to Florida in his quest to coach youngsters.
      Smith was released by Notts County at the end of the 2017-18 seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Smith’s dream of coaching in America eventually came true with XL Soccer Academy in Orlando – where he serves as Academy Director.
      The Yorkshireman said: “The goal of The XL Academy is to produce National Team players while giving every student the opportunity to perform to their greatest potential on the field and in the classroom.” More

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      Rio Ferdinand reveals Man Utd ‘mishandled’ Wilfried Zaha as star speaks up about claims he slept with Moyes’ daughter

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      RIO FERDINAND claimed Manchester United “mishandled” Wilfried Zaha – and that he himself was partly to blame.Crystal Palace hero Zaha, now 30, was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing for United, costing £10million from the Selhurst Park club in 2013.
      Ferdinand believes Man Utd ‘mishandled’ Zaha and that he himself should have done more to protect and nurture him

      But he struggled after making his debut under David Moyes and was sold back to Palace for just £3.4m in 2015.
      Part of the reason for Zaha’s failure was the speculation surrounding him and Moyes’ daughter Lauren.
      Zaha claims he was given no advice from the club on how to deal with this, prompting him to take to Twitter to deny the rumours.
      Eagles ace Zaha opened up to former United and England defender Ferdinand on his Locker Room YouTube show in 2020.
      But it was in a follow-up tweet that Ferdinand said he should have been there to guide Zaha.
      He tweeted: “Wilfried Zaha was mishandled by #MUFC I believe… although the club had started a big transition & as a Snr player I should of done more to help him!”
      And a number of fans seemed to agree with Ferdinand.
      One wrote: “Wow… Well done, Rio. Admitting responsibility in a matter as this is very rare for senior players like you. I agree with you that Zaha wasn’t well handled at Utd.”
      And another posted: “Big of you to say so Rio.”
      Zaha, who has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park with his current deal soon to expire in the summer, hit out at United for their lack of support during his time at the club.
      Zaha failed to hit the heights expected of him at UtdCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      He said: “No one at the club at all told me anything, I didn’t know what to do whatsoever.
      “I remember tweeting something about it saying ‘silly rumours’ because it was getting too much, so I had to say something myself and then I remember the club media messaging me saying ‘you shouldn’t have done that, you shouldn’t have done this’ and I’m thinking ‘you haven’t helped me.’
      “I’m here by myself, struggling because people are telling me I’ve slept with the manager’s daughter and that’s why you’re not playing me.
      “The funny thing is, it’s carried on for so long I felt like, is the manager not going to come and have a word with me over this?
      “That’s how I felt and I’m thinking this is ridiculous man. Up to this day I still get people that think that’s true and I’ve never even met his daughter.
      “It was stressful. I’m 19, I’m living in Manchester and all of a sudden we come back from a tour and I’m not playing for no reason so obviously [people] are going to make up rumours.
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      “I’m in Manchester where I’m by myself, and I’m not playing on top of that, so it’s stressful enough to have a rumour.
      “People came out with it, I see it trending on Twitter, people came out with how can he play so well on tour then just be dashed out like that with nothing, no one telling us anything – he must have slept with the manager’s daughter.
      “And that started going and I’m 19, and my Twitter is blowing up. I’ve never had it before and my Twitter is blowing up and there’s no one for me to speak to.” More

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      Ex-Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson QUIT days before Treble season in huge row with board before historical U-turn

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      SIR ALEX FERGUSON sensationally QUIT as Manchester United manager just days before the start of the Treble-winning season.In a stunning twist of events following the 1997/98 season, Ferguson resigned from his position at Old Trafford before taking it back up.
      A raging Sir Alex Ferguson resigned from Manchester United ahead of the 1998/99 seasonCredit: Getty
      It came after the United board at the time, comprising of then-chairman Martin Edwards and Sir Roland Smith, chairman of the club’s PLC board, expressed their doubts over Ferguson’s focus.
      The inside story, revealed by The Times, was the season after United lost out on the league title by a single point to Arsenal, after winning four of the previous five seasons.
      Ahead of the new season Edwards and Smith told Ferguson: “We are worried about your focus.”
      Their fears of this came from talk at the time of Ferguson revelling in his “celebrity status” and his passion for horse racing.
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      Ferguson, perplexed with the line of questioning, directly questioned whether they were trying to force him out of the club – to which he was assured it was nothing of the sort.
      Transfers were also a hotly debated topic within the club’s hierarchy, with Ferguson pushing for the signing of Dwight Yorke despite doubts from assistant Brian Kidd and other members of the United board.
      Following the meeting, Edwards wrote a letter for Ferguson upon his return to pre-season training outlining all the concerns the board had.
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      Edwards then revealed that within hours Ferguson stormed into the office raging and declaring he was going to resign: “The language Alex used was a little bit more fruity, but that was the basic gist of it.
      “Well, if that’s the way you feel, Alex, we’ll have to accept it,” Edwards replied, confident of calling the former Aberdeen manager’s bluff.
      Fortunately for United, the bluff worked and Ferguson withdrew his application later in the day.
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      Gordon Strachan described Ferguson as being “driven by anger,” and following the butting of heads at the start of the season Ferguson was full of it.
      And it paid dividends as United won an unprecedented Treble that year – a feat yet to be replicated in English football.
      United also went on to win the next three Premier League titles, another feat which is yet to be replicated by a club or manager other than Ferguson’s United.
      Ferguson celebrates with the European Cup after the UEFA Champions League FinalCredit: Getty More

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      Barcelona legend Lionel Messi voted SECOND in top 30 players of all time in fans poll, despite breaking records

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      LIONEL MESSI may be Barcelona’s highest ever goalscorer, but he has missed out in one fan poll naming the club’s greatest player of all-time.In a ballot from fan poll site Ranker, the Argentina World Cup winner and now-PSG star, 35, managed to only come second best with a famous compatriot winning out.
      Messi came only second in a fans’ poll on Barcelona’s top playersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Diego Maradona edged Messi when supporters were asked to rank the LaLiga giants’ best and brightest.
      Several big names were forced to settle on a place outside of the top ten, from 1940s and 50s legend Cesar Rodriguez to Rivaldo and Neymar.
      Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique squeezed into the top ten behind recent heroes Ronaldo, Carles Puyol and Xavi.
      The top five is hard to dispute even if the order can be debated.
      Andres Iniesta, the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time with 35 trophies to his name, was fifth behind Johan Cruyff.
      The Dutch maestro is arguably remembered for his time as coach at the Camp Nou as much as for his mighty playing record, with two Ballon d’Or awards arriving while a midfield focal point for the Blaugrana and four LaLiga titles won from the dugout.
      FANS’ ALL-TIME TOP 20 BARCELONA PLAYERS1. Diego Maradona
      2. Lionel Messi
      3. Ronaldinho
      4. Johan Cruyff
      5. Andres Iniesta
      6. Xavi
      7. Carles Puyol
      8. Ronaldo
      9. Gerard Pique
      10. Luis Suarez
      11. Neymar
      12. Dani Alves
      13. Sergio Busquets
      14. Samuel Eto’o
      15. Rivaldo
      16. David Villa
      17. Ronald Koeman
      18. Romario
      19. Hristo Stoichkov
      20. Victor Valdes

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      It is perhaps a surprise to see Cruyff come in behind Ronaldinho, who dazzled with his sensational skills during five years in Catalunya but won only two league titles and a Champions League.
      Edging out Barcelona’s record scorer and highest appearance maker Messi is Maradona.
      The club forked over a world record transfer fee to secure the forward from Boca Juniors.
      But injuries meant Maradona left two years later with just a Copa del Rey to his name, before going on to become a global superstar with Napoli and Argentina, winning the 1986 World Cup in the process – a trophy Messi claimed in Qatar before Christmas.
      Messi’s old Argentina boss Maradona beat him in this pollCredit: AFP – Getty More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder come face to face at Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury for first time since Trilogy cheating claims

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      TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder reunited at Jake Paul’s fight with Tommy Fury.The pair are long-term rivals having fought three times in the ring in a trilogy of fights between 2018 and 2021.

      Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder met for the first time since their trilogy fight
      Both fighters are set to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy FuryCredit: Getty
      And they have now come face to face for the first time since their third fight with Tyson shouting “bomb squad” before shaking hands with the American.
      It is believed Wilder is in Saudi Arabia for talks about his next fight with both boxers said to be open to a fourth bout.
      After the first fight ended in a draw, Fury won the next two fights.
      But after the second, Wilder accused the Gypsy King of cheating in order to beat him.
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      The American alleged that his water had been spiked with muscle relaxer and that Fury had hidden a hard object in his gloves.
      The third fight ended in a knockout win for Fury, but Wilder still argues he cheated.
      Wilder and Tyson are set to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury – Tyson’s brother.
      When asked if he was going to go to the fight, Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel told TalkSport: “Yes. He’s at the hotel relaxing.”
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      The fight takes place tonight in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, where Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr took place.
      The fight is scheduled to start at 9.30pm UK time.
      Meanwhile backup fighter Mike Perry uploaded a photo to his Twitter page alleging it to be the “script” of the fight between Paul and Fury.
      Despite Perry’s baseless online accusation, representatives for the promoters in Saudi Arabia confirmed to SunSport that the allegations are completely false.
      They said: “We can confirm, it’s fake.”
      Furthermore, Troop Boxing Promotions does not even exist, according to Google.
      According to the document: “Paul lands huge right hand that sends Fury crashing to the canvas…

      “The ringside doctor rushes in to check on Fury, but he waves him away.
      “Tommy shall then act out an eye injury that forces the referee to call off the fight, declaring Jake Paul the winner by TKO.”

      🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel More

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      Man Utd TEAM Sir Alex Ferguson ALMOST signed, including Zidane, Lewandowski, Shearer, Ronaldinho, Gazza and Kompany

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      SIR ALEX FERGUSON retired as arguably the greatest football manager  – certainly in Premier League history, at least.The Manchester United legend won 13 Premier League titles as well as five FA Cups and two Champions League crowns.
      Sir Alex Ferguson was the greatest Premier League manager of all-timeCredit: Getty
      The best XI of players Ferguson narrowly missed out on
      Despite boasting a host of stars, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville down the years, Fergie often worked wonders with less quality than his rivals.
      You only need to look at what’s happened to the club after his retirement to see just how remarkable a coach he was.
      But that’s not to say Ferguson didn’t try to make big moves in the transfer market.
      Most-recently, Robert Lewandowski revealed he was ‘ready’ to join United in 2012 – ahead of Fergie’s final season – but was blocked from leaving by Borussia Dortmund.
      But the now-Barcelona star is by no means the only player Ferguson missed out on despite making his move.
      We’ve taken a look at the best XI of players Man Utd nearly signed under Fergie:
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      GK – Petr Cech
      Before becoming a Chelsea legend, Cech could have been a United starCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      BEFORE he became a Premier League legend with a glittering spell at Chelsea and a late stint at Arsenal, the Czech stopper was a youngster at Ligue 1 side Rennes.
      Aged just 19, Cech was starting to make a name for himself, with Ferguson watching him closely.
      However, the then-Man Utd boss opted against a move as he believed him to be too young to stand between the sticks at Old Trafford.
      Ferguson revealed: “I went to see Petr Cech when he was at Rennes. He was 19 at the time and I said to myself, ‘He’s too young’.”
      In 2004, Chelsea made their move and the rest, as they say, is history.RB – Philipp Lahm
      Philipp Lahm was once on the radar of Man UtdCredit: AP:Associated Press
      IN the 2003-04 season, Bayern Munich legend Lahm was shipped out on loan to Stuttgart to get some first-team experience – but still at a top level.
      Man Utd took on the Bundesliga side in the Champions League that season and Lahm starred in a 2-1 win.
      Able to play at right-back, left-back and central midfield, Ferguson was keen to sign him based on that one game, according to Lahm’s former Bayern coach Hermann Gerland.
      Speaking about loaning Lahm out, Gerland revealed: “It was not easy to arrange. But at Stuttgart, Philipp could play in the Champions League.
      “After three months he was the best player on the field against Manchester United.
      “Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him in England, I think that says enough.”CB – Vincent Kompany
      Kompany could have been a winner in the red of Manchester, rather than blueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      THE Belgian star is a real Premier League legend, leading Man City to an unprecedented period of success in their history.
      Kompany played a vital role in all four of their league triumphs – including his stunning, out-of-the-blue strike against Leicester to keep Liverpool at bay in the 2019 season.
      But things could have been so different, with then-Anderlecht ace Kompany top of Ferguson’s wish list in 2004 – with the defender aged just 18.
      The move never came to fruition though and the Belgian ended up at Man City – via Hamburg – in 2008.
      Watching him have such success must be a bitter pill to swallow for United fans – especially as it came for their rivals.CB – Paolo Maldini
      Fergie once chased Paolo Maldini, but was turned down by his dad
      AFTER years of being stuck with the likes of Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, Man Utd could have once had arguably the greatest defender of all time on their books.
      But in truth, it was never going to happen – thanks to Maldini’s dad, Cesare.
      Ferguson approached him during an event in Italy and mentioned he was a big fan of his son but was swiftly rebuffed.
      Fergie recalled: “Well I did try. But when I met his father he was quite formidable. I got a shake of the head. That’s all I got.
      “He did say ‘my grandfather was Milan, my father’s Milan, I’m Milan and my son is Milan. Forget it’.”LB – Bixente Lizarazu
      Bixente Lizarazu was once the top left-backs on the planetCredit: Reuters
      AT the time the best left-back in the world, Lizarazu was once being lined up to replace Denis Irwin at Old Trafford.
      But Bayern Munich were adamant their star man wouldn’t be going anywhere while at the peak of his powers.
      Lizarazu revealed: “I had the chance, I think in about 2001 or 2002, to go to Manchester United, but it stopped very quickly as Bayern said no.
      “Ferguson was keen to sign me and United had talks with Bayern, but Bayern said there was no question that I’d be leaving and so I was staying with them.
      “I was very happy in Munich, but Manchester United did try.”CM – Paul Gascoigne
      Ferguson had his head turned by a young Gazza during his Newcastle daysCredit: Getty Images
      JUST a year into his reign at Man Utd, Ferguson was left in awe of one man… Gazza.
      During a game against Newcastle, Gascoigne schooled Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson and Remi Moses – midfielders Fergie described as ‘all great players’.
      But they were made to look like Sunday League players by Gascoigne’s artistry, with Fergie saying ‘he just tore them apart’.
      Ferguson was later left devastated after Tottenham beat him to the punch – after they bought Gazza’s parents a new house to sweeten the deal.
      The Scot recalled: “I’m lying by the pool when there is a tannoy for me to take a call.
      “It was [chairman] Martin Edwards telling me Tottenham had [signed him instead] by buying Paul’s mum and dad a house in the north east.”CM – Zinedine Zidane
      Ferguson was worried Zidane and Cantona would not be able to play together
      ERIC CANTONA or Zinedine Zidane? That was the big conundrum for Ferguson.
      With Cantona already on the books, both the French forward and then-chief scout Les Kershaw recommended Zidane to the Scot boss.
      But, feeling they both played the same position, Ferguson opted to stay loyal to his own star.
      Former chairman Edwards recalled: “When Zidane was at Bordeaux, Les Kershaw, the chief scout, was telling me we should be interested in him and I mentioned it to Alex.
      “Alex said that Eric had also mentioned Zidane to him but Alex felt Zidane played in the same position as Eric.
      “Having gone over to France to persuade Eric to re-sign for us, after the Crystal Palace incident [with Cantona banned for eight months for his kung-fu kick], he felt that, if he had brought Zidane in, it may have affected Eric’s position, so he stuck with Eric.”RW – Arjen Robben
      Arjen Robben met with Man Utd during his time at PSVCredit: AP:Associated Press
      DURING his time at PSV Eindhoven, before he became one of the most-feared wingers on the planet at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Robben thought he was destined for a move to Old Trafford.
      The Dutch legend insisted he would have moved to United in a heartbeat, but they went cold on him, before the Blues swooped.
      Robben recalled: “I had a very good conversation with [Ferguson] over dinner in Manchester and we spoke about football and life.
      “I also went and had a good look around the training ground and everything was good.
      “But after I went back to PSV nothing happened. There was no real contact and the deal didn’t happen.
      “PSV were also negotiating with Chelsea at that time, so maybe they offered PSV more money? I don’t really know.
      “I spoke to Chelsea and I liked their plans. We had one meeting and everything was done pretty quickly.
      “Had Manchester United offered me a deal straight after I met them, I would have signed there, but it didn’t happen and I’ve got no regrets.”LW – Ronaldinho
      Man Utd wanted Ronaldinho while he was still at PSGCredit: Getty
      A YEAR on from his 2002 World Cup heroics, still aged just 23, Ronaldinho could have been a United player.
      Then at Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian was being lined up to replace David Beckham on the wing after he was sold to Real Madrid.
      Clearly still bitter about the failed move, Ferguson blamed then chief executive Peter Kenyon for dropping the ball.
      Fergie claimed: “There was a problem with his brother, who was his agent.
      “But Peter Kenyon, who was chief executive then, didn’t get the job done.”ST – Alan Shearer
      Alan Shearer stayed loyal to Blackburn owner Jack Walker and snubbed UnitedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      MAN UTD wanted Shearer. Shearer wanted Man Utd.
      The only problem was then-Blackburn owner Jack Walker, according to ex-United chief Edwards.
      In his autobiography, he wrote: “Shearer had been to Alex Ferguson’s house, spoke to him and assured him he wanted to come.
      “The problem, I think, was with the chairman of Blackburn, Jack Walker, who was not a great fan of Manchester United, [we were] local rivals, both Lancashire clubs.
      “He did not want Alan Shearer to come to Manchester United.
      “Shearer was quite close to Walker, who was like a father figure to him, and I don’t think Alan wanted to upset him by coming to United.
      “And I’m not sure Jack would have let him come anyway, whereas he was happy for Alan to go to Newcastle, I don’t think that was a threat to him.”
      Fergie’s almost XI is mouth-watering but how does it compare to the team Arsene Wenger nearly assembled at Arsenal?
      ST – Robert Lewandowski
      Lewandowski wanted to move to Man Utd in 2012 after Fergie’s approach only for Dortmund to block it
      MUCH like Shearer, the feeling was mutual between Lewandowski and United.
      Unfortunately, Dortmund were unwilling to let the Polish superstar – who won the Best Fifa Men’s Player award for 2020 – leave in 2012.
      In the end Fergie turned to Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie to fill the striker’s berth, which didn’t work out too badly.
      Lewandowski eventually forced a move to Bayern two years later on a free and would go on to become one of the world’s best – even if he missed out on the Ballon d’Or.
      Looking back at his failed to move to Old Trafford, Lewandowski told France Football: “After my second year in Dortmund, I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson.
      “He wanted me to come to Manchester.
      “I was very interested. I can even say I was ready. But Dortmund didn’t want to let me go.
      “It didn’t upset me more than that because things were going well with Borussia.” More