Alex Ferguson once admitted he was fascinated by Michael Collins after reading up on Irish history.
The former Manchester United manager believes Collins was never going to be successful in getting an Ireland without partition from the British and thinks Eamon de Valera didn't attend the talks as a result of this.
He even said de Valera sending Collins to the talks would be similar to him sending his long-time assistant Mike Phelan to sign Eric Cantona.
In an interview with legendary RTE broadcaster Colm Murray in 2010, Ferguson revealed: "I started reading history many, many years ago and one of the topics I took up was Irish history from the Easter Rebellion, Easter Rising through to the Civil War.
"I was fascinated by Michael Collins, [that] period of the Civil War. I think that, without being too controversial, I think he was prey to having to go to the talks in London. I don't think he was ever going to be successful. That's my opinion.
"Even in his own words if you remember, he signed his death warrant that day when he signed the Treaty with partition and everyone expected him to come back with no partition - an all-island. I don' think he could ever get that. I don't think the British Government were ever going to allow that.
"I got fascinated by him, but he was a bit of a romantic figure in the sense of his fight against the English between the Easter Rising and the Civil War starting. His network of people in Dublin at the time was unbelievable. It was almost like the CIA how he built up his network."
On de Valera, he added: "Why did he not go? Think about it. I'm going to sign Eric Cantona and I send Mike Phelan to do the deal.
"Why was he not there? I think he knew he couldn't win.
"I'm not so sure he wanted a patsy, but I think he knew he couldn't win. Him being not there gave him an authority to complain and get his power through the Dail because of that."
