Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on the verge of leaving Manchester United for Tottenham Hotspur before the club's Treble-winning season of 1999. The striker remained at Old Trafford and went on to score in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich.
United host Spurs on Saturday after a two-week international break, a fixture that recalls the transfer agreement that could have redirected Solskjaer's career. His former team-mate Michael Carrick now leads United against an ailing Tottenham side.
Agreed fee and Ferguson's intervention
Solskjaer, now 53, was two seasons into his United career when the clubs settled on a £5.5million fee for his move to Tottenham. That sum was more than three times the £1.5m United had paid Molde for him in 1996, but the transfer still depended on his approval.
Sir Alex Ferguson's influence proved decisive. He called Solskjaer into his office and made clear how highly he rated him. The Norwegian then played a key part in the 1999 Treble, scoring in United's legendary comeback against Bayern in the Champions League final.
Solskjaer's own account
“Everything was agreed. The two clubs had signed and were just waiting for me,” Solskjaer said 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.”
Legacy at Old Trafford
Solskjaer more than justified Ferguson's decision to disregard the transfer fee. Arriving with modest expectations, he consistently outperformed predictions, even netting 18 Premier League goals in his first season while Eric Cantona remained the club's leading striker.
He spent 11 years at Old Trafford, scoring 126 goals in 366 appearances across all competitions, and secured nine major honours, including six Premier League titles. His 1999 heroics at the Camp Nou cemented his legendary status.
Tottenham eventually acquired a United forward when Teddy Sheringham returned to the club on a free transfer in 2001. Yet the north Londoners could have changed both their own fortunes and European football history had they signed Solskjaer 28 years ago.
