Alex Ferguson’s shopping list from 2004 is revealed

English League 20-21

ONE System | 12/02/2021 18:37

Gerard Pique and Manchester United (Reuters) Shopping List

What do Gerard Pique, Philip Maxas, Gabriel Heinza and Vincent Company have in common? All are quality brakes of course. And what if they add Alan Smith, the excellent English striker, to the list? The answer is that they were all on Alex Ferguson’s designated signing list for Manchester United in 2004. Pique (at the time a young stopper at Barcelona) Heinza (PSG) and Alan Smith (Leeds) were given red wear, but Maxes and Company did not.

Many years after the Scot left the Red Devils, the list was leaked, and it turns out that the Belgian stopper who later became captain and legend of city rival City, was included in it. In the first column you can see the existing staff that United had at the time, alongside players who need to leave the club such as Ricardo, Nicki Butt, Liuk Chadwick, Michael Stewart and Diego Forlan. Three of these names are also marked, the first two and Forlan.

Alex Ferguson (Reuters)

After leaving, Ricardo made a career in Spain at Osasuna and Valladolid, but spent a season at United as a substitute goalkeeper. Nicki Butt is a legend of the club who gave his last years at the top level and Diego Forlan who disappointed in the red uniform won a resurgence in Villarreal, won the golden shoe and then also starred in the Atletico Madrid uniform, led the Uruguayan team to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals and was named best player in the tournament.

Diego Forlan Celebrates Great Equality (Reuters)