West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio has lifted the lid on the conversation he had with Sir Alex Ferguson about a possible Manchester United transfer in 2001.
The enigmatic Italian forward remains one of the most iconic players to have graced the Premier League. And he could have played for United, as he revealed why he rejected Ferguson when the legendary former Old Trafford boss tried to sign him.
Di Canio was 33 at the time and captain of West Ham and decided to stick with the Hammers, where he was revered. He insists he has no rejects about turning down the chance to win league titles under Ferguson at United.
“I thought it was a joke. I thought it was my friend from Italy," Di Canio told Sky Sports about the moment Ferguson called him.
“My stomach went a bit because it makes you think you have underestimated yourself, that you are bigger than what you thought.
“Man United call you, try to persuade you to move because they want you. For a couple of minutes you feel big and strong.
“It was strange for me to say no to Sir Alex. I said ‘thanks, 1000 times thanks, but I can’t. West Ham are the family that warmed to me in the worst moment in my life, I’m the skipper, I can’t.’
“He told me, ‘Paolo, respect for this, I love people that think in this way. You are the man that I thought you were.
“In the end I remained at West Ham and I don’t have regrets about it, even if United became the best, won the Champions League, winning the leagues. I would never change winning those leagues for the four and a half years I wore the West Ham shirt.”
