Jermain Defoe has voiced his frustration about never signing for Manchester United despite Sir Alex Ferguson wanting to bring him to Old Trafford.
The former England international was one of the most clinical strikers in the Premier League throughout his career. Defoe's deadly finishing, particularly earlier in his career for the likes of West Ham and Tottenham, led to interest from several big Premier League clubs.
United players discussed Defoe with Ferguson
United, then the dominant force in the league under Sir Alex, were among the interested parties, first during his stint in east London, prior to his 2004 move to north London, and later when he played for Tottenham. Defoe claims United players were even discussing him as a potential signing with the manager.
The 43-year-old revealed that ex-United defender Patrice Evra recently asked him why he never signed for the Reds. He also said the Frenchman confirmed that Sir Alex wanted him at the club.
However, for reasons the forward still doesn't quite understand, a move to United - or any of the other big English sides - never materialised, which is still one of his biggest career regrets.
Defoe: 'I don't know what happened'
Defoe told William Hill's podcast, The Warm-Up: "I get asked about why I didn't sign for the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea or Man United a lot. The other day I bumped into a Liverpool fan and he asked, 'What happened in that year you were meant to come to us?'
"There was always speculation, even when I was at West Ham, about joining Man United. I spoke with Patrice Evra recently and he also asked, 'What happened when you were meant to sign for us? Sir Alex Ferguson was talking about you!' I don't know what happened in the end.
"I do think about it a lot. If I'd gone to the likes of Man United, who create more chances in a game, then I'd have scored even more goals. But for whatever reason, it just never happened."
He added: "It is frustrating though, because whenever I talk to some of the boys that played for these big clubs, they all say that they wanted me to come. I got offers from Liverpool twice. I think Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were involved in that, while Kenny Dalglish was manager.
"I also got a call from an agent who wanted to take me to Juventus, but I'd already agreed to go back to Tottenham under Harry Redknapp in 2009."
Defoe's admiration for United and Ferguson
Since hanging up his boots at Sunderland in 2022, Defoe has spoken several times about his admiration for United and Ferguson. He still feels he would have suited the system played at Old Trafford in his prime years, and always believed he would one day play for the club.
In a previous interview, Defoe said: "I remember being linked with Man United. But, it's not one of those ones where you're sort of like going knocking on the manager's door and saying, 'I want to leave.'
"Because, like I said, you're just grateful. I came through at the age of 17. I played in the first team when I was 17. I think when you're young and you're sort of like living the dream, really, you're grateful. And I loved coming through at West Ham because I just felt like that environment was just perfect for me, where I was amongst young players that were just hungry and good people.
"I was still a kid. But of course, you look back and think. To be honest, I've always felt at some point, I'd always felt that at some point I'd end up at Man United, because I just felt... When I looked at Harry Redknapp and how much I loved Harry, I think the next one was Sir Alex."
He continued: "I always used to look at Man United and look at those players, and it was all about winning. And I always thought, 'I'd love to play for him.' Because of how I was as a player and as a person.
"I always wanted to win. I didn't cut any corners, and I just worked as hard as I could. I loved football. So I just felt that for me, it was almost like I was suited in that environment."
Defoe still had a brilliant career playing for West Ham, Spurs, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Bournemouth, netting 162 Premier League goals - which makes him the 10th highest scorer in the league's history. However, in contrast to Ferguson's United, the biggest trophies eluded him, having only won the League Cup in England in 2008.
