Markus Babbel has now opened up on why he did not end up playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and found himself signing for Liverpool instead.
The 53-year-old German impressed during his second spell with Bayern Munich and crossed paths with Sir Alex Ferguson when he was playing for the Bundesliga club.
Babbel started and played the full 90 minutes of Bayern Munich’s 2-1 defeat to Ferguson’s Man Utd side in the 1999 Champions League final at the Camp Nou.
The former Germany international had returned to Bayern in 1994 after a brief spell with Hamburg and his second run at the club later found him linked with United.
READ MORE: Why Rio Ferdinand thinks Matthijs de Ligt’s back injury has made him miss 22 Man Utd matches in row now
Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson in the winners’ enclosure after victory with his horse Caldwell Potter in the second race during racing on day three of the Cheltenham National Hunt racing festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in 2025 in Gloucestershire, England
Photo by Tom Jenkins/ Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson won TWO Champions League titles in 1999 and 2008, but had several near-misses…
… which Champions League run under Fergie was the ONE THAT GOT AWAY for you?
TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-UEFA-MANUTD
Photo by ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images
Markus Babbel reveals the transfer approach that Man Utd made for him and what made him raise his eyebrows
Speaking to Bayern Insider, Markus Babbel recalled his time as a player and when Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing him from Bayern Munich.
The former Liverpool defender claimed that United made a “record offer of 14 million Deutschmarks” and ex-Bayern GM Uli Hoeness wanted to sanction the sale.
More United News
However, Babbel suggested that he felt that United were not “entirely serious” about bringing him to Old Trafford after he held talks with the Premier League club.
“I once had a rather unusual transfer situation, I think,” he said.
“Manchester United wanted me and, at the time, they made a record offer of 14 million Deutschmarks.
“Uli Hoeness really wanted to make it happen, of course, but in the talks with Manchester [United], it became clear that they weren’t entirely serious about me.”
Babbel explained that Man Utd offered him a higher salary as part of their move for him, but something did not align with the transfer fee put up by the Red Devils.
“They did offer a salary that was slightly higher than at FC Bayern Munich, but it didn’t match the transfer fee,” he continued.
“I should have been earning much more for a deal of that size – it would have been an absolute record transfer.”
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel’s latest England call-up proves Man Utd made £15m mistake Wayne Rooney also saw coming
Sir Alex Ferguson shared his tip ahead of World Cup 2026!
Who do YOU think is the favourite to win the World Cup? What do you think of Fergie's assessment?
Sir Alex Ferguson / World Cup
Getty Images
Markus Babbel on Uli Hoeness and Man Utd and later switching Bayern Munich for Liverpool
Uli Hoeness, who later served as Bayern president, was “desperate” for the Red Devils to pay the hefty transfer price that had been tabled, according to Babbel.
“Back then, no one had cost 14 million at Bayern, and Hoeness, as I said, was desperate to push it through,” Babbel added.
“It felt like he was coming to us every hour, gradually offering me more and more money personally to convince me to move.”
Babbel remained at Bayern before the former Germany defender moved to Liverpool on a free transfer in 2000 under ex-Reds manager Gerard Houllier.
“In the end, I didn’t do it [move to Man Utd],” he said.
“I stayed at Bayern. Although if I had left, I would have gone on to win the UEFA Champions League against Bayern – but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Instead, I found my great happiness at Liverpool. And I think this is a story not many people know yet.”
Babbel lifted three Bundesliga titles, a UEFA Cup and two German Cups with Bayern, while he captured a UEFA Cup, a League Cup and an FA Cup with Liverpool.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox