Adams: Manchester United wanted to sign me

Matthew Stead
Tony Adams: Has revealed he nearly joined Manchester United on two separate occasions

Tony Adams: Has revealed he nearly joined Manchester United on two separate occasions

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United tried to sign him twice during his career.

Now 48, Adams spent the whole of his 22-year playing career at Arsenal, but claims that Manchester United tried to sign him on two separate occasions during his time at Highbury.

The approaches from Sir Alex Ferguson came before Arsene Wenger was appointed manager in 1996, and while Adams admits he was tempted to leave, he stayed to captain the side to two Premier League and FA Cup doubles under Wenger in 1997/98 and 2001/02.

“Alex Ferguson wanted to sign me twice, just before Arsene Wenger came to the club,” said Adams.

“I was ready for a change and he was onto me every day.

“The chairman at the time, Peter Hill-Wood, convinced me that there was a good man on the way and that we were going to be ambitious financially.

“I found my salary tripled, which was amazing. Arsene came and the rest is history.”