Roy Keane and Ian Wright were both on the same wavelength over the idea of one Premier League cult hero playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson oversaw both the highs and lows in the transfer window during his legendary Manchester United managerial career.
The 82-year-old iconic Scotsman brought a raft of star-studded talent to Old Trafford, including United legends Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Ferguson missed key targets during the transfer window, including Brazil legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho and former Chelsea ace Eden Hazard.
Despite his failed attempts to sign players, Ferguson enjoyed incredible success at Old Trafford and the United legend hoovered up the major silverware.
The former Aberdeen and United boss engineered all 13 of the Red Devils’ Premier League title wins and led the club to a famous continental treble in 1999.
Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford as United manager in 2013 after the Red Devils captured their last Premier League trophy at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
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SEPTEMBER 07: Former footballers Roy Keane and Ian Wright, working as football analysts for ITV Sport, on the sideline during the Republic of Ire...
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Keane and Wright on ‘Cantona-esque’ player
Speaking on The Overlap On Tour, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher asked about Sir Alex Ferguson’s desire to sign Paolo Di Canio for Manchester United.
“Di Canio nearly came to Man United, didn’t he? They tried to sign him in January, I think,” he said.
United were linked with Paolo Di Canio during the 2001-02 season and they tabled a bid believed to be worth £1.5m in the 2002 January transfer window.
West Ham rejected the Red Devils’ initial approach and reportedly wanted a £3.5m fee from United to land the Italian former player.
United cooled their interest in Di Canio and the 56-year-old West Ham legend remained at the Hammers.
Responding to Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane said: “You know what? He probably would have been decent at United.
“He scored that goal in the cup at Old Trafford where Nev played him onside. Nev kept his hand up for about eight minutes. We kicked off and Nev still had his hand up.”
Ian Wright insisted that the former Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan player could have been “Cantona-esque” at United and praised Di Canio as a “skilful player.”
“He would’ve been Cantona-esque, wouldn’t he? He was so skilful, what a skilful player,” he said.
United legend Gary Neville reiterated that Ferguson did have an interest in signing Di Canio during his time at Old Trafford.
“Our boss [Ferguson] liked him,” he added.
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Di Canio on failed Man Utd transfer
The eccentric Paolo Di Canio has previously revealed that he swore at the former United manager when he tried to sign him.
“He called me two Christmas Days in a row and I thought it was my friend so I swore down the phone,” he told The Daily Mail in 2013.
“He said, ‘No, Paolo, this is Alex,’ I said, ‘Alex who? Is this you?’ still thinking it was my friend and swore again.
“I said no, it was incredible to think about for me especially as I was 31 and he wanted me to play behind the strikers because Teddy Sheringham was nearly 40 and ready to quit.
“I thought this is mad that he wants me. I thought it was a joke but I said I can’t trade.
“It was so strange I didn’t understand the first few words I thought it was my friend from Italy messing about.
“But it was a fantastic moment and gave me more energy because he was an important manager and you think you are a top footballer, I didn’t have high esteem.
“We didn’t negotiate anything I say thank you but I can’t because of West Ham I can’t trade my people, it was an incredible moment.”
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