Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came within a whisker of joining Tottenham Hotspur in a £5.5million transfer before Sir Alex Ferguson intervened to keep him at Manchester United.
Ferguson's Decisive Intervention
The two clubs had agreed a deal worth £5.5million, more than three times the £1.5m United paid Molde to bring the Norwegian to England in 1996. The potential switch occurred before United's treble-winning campaign, and had it been completed, one of the club's most memorable moments might never have happened.
Ferguson's involvement proved decisive, as he called Solskjaer into his office and closed the door. The manager told the forward he would be a big part of his squad and that he did not want him to go.
Solskjaer's Account
"Everything was agreed. The two clubs had signed and were just waiting for me," Solskjaer revealed in November 2010. "It was that close.
"The gaffer called me into his office and closed the door. He said the conversation was just going to be between the two of us. He told me I would be a big part of his squad and he didn't want me to go.
"If he had said all the best in your career, I would have gone. But he wanted me to stay and so I signed. Hopefully I paid back the £5.5million that had been agreed with Spurs. But it is strange now to look at that fax."
Treble Hero and Lasting Legacy
Solskjaer subsequently played a pivotal role in the 1999 treble triumph, netting the stoppage-time winner in United's Champions League final fightback against Bayern Munich.
Despite arriving with modest expectations in 1996, with Eric Cantona still the club's leading striker, Solskjaer exceeded predictions. He surpassed Cantona's goal tally in his maiden season, netting 18 Premier League goals.
The forward remained at Old Trafford for 11 years, scoring 126 times across 366 matches in all competitions. He secured nine major honours, including six Premier League titles.
Tottenham did ultimately acquire a United forward when they brought Teddy Sheringham back to White Hart Lane on a free transfer in 2001. Nevertheless, the north London outfit might have altered not only their own fortunes but the entire European football landscape had they secured Solskjaer's signature 28 years ago.
