Paul Gascoigne reveals Sir Alex Ferguson STILL hasn’t forgiven him for joining Tottenham over Manchester United in 1988… but says he only chose them because they offered his dad a car and his sister a sun bed!
- Paul Gascoigne reveals Sir Alex Ferguson is still angry he joined Tottenham
- Ferguson tried to sign the attacking midfielder at Manchester United in 1988
- Gazza was full of praise for the Scot saying that nobody could ever surpass him
Paul Gascoigne revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson still harbours a grudge against him because he signed for Tottenham instead of Manchester United in 1988.
In an interview with Rob Moore, the Tottenham and England icon revealed Ferguson is yet to forgive the snub and although he has no regrets over his time at Spurs, Gazza did admit he would have loved to play for the Scot.
Gascoigne left boyhood club Newcastle United in 1988 after four years at St. James’ Park, and turned down the Red Devils in favour of a move to north London, where he would play 92 games, scoring 33 goals before joining Lazio in 1992.
Paul Gascoigne joined Tottenham from Newcastle in 1988 where he would win the 1991 FA Cup
He told Moore: ‘I saw him not long ago, Alex Ferguson. He’s 82 and it was at a game last year. So I was told, “Paul, Alex Ferguson wants to see you.” I thought, “F***, here we go again.”
‘And he went “How we doing?” I said, “I’m alright, thanks.” Then, “You b*****d, why didn’t you f***ing sign for me when you had the chance, no one ever f***ing lets me down”. I said, “I know, I’m sorry.” “You were some f***ing player then, son.”
‘I’m still annoyed looking at him, thinking, “F***, what a manager.” He took no s**t. I reckon I’d have gotten a few b******ings from him definitely but I’d have been the same player.’
The maverick attacking midfielder revealed Sir Alex Ferguson is still fuming he rejected him
At the time, the Scot was yet to turn the Red Devils into the footballing powerhouse they later became, churning out titles and trophies on a regular basis, and Tottenham were ahead of them.
But it was not so much because of Spurs’ better standing at the time that he elected to move to London, but more for a strange offer he received from them.
Gascoigne won an FA Cup during his spell in north London
He explained: ‘I turned down Man United more because Spurs offered me mam and dad a house phone and £20,000 and me dad a car and me sister a sunbed.
‘At that time Spurs were better than Man United, they were much better. It wasn’t until I signed for Spurs a year later that Fergie brought on Becks, Scholes and they started winning everything. Then you think, wow.’
The maverick attacking midfielder also showered praise on Ferguson, who is widely regarded as the finest manager of all time, perhaps hoping that he might finally be able to put the grudge to bed.
He added: ”The best in the world. When you see the likes of Pele, Maradona, Johan Cruyff and that I thought, “Right, I can be as good as them, definitely.” I knew that as a player.
‘But when you say you want to be a manager, how can anyone be as good Alex Ferguson?’
