Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that one of the only people he still keeps in touch with from football is former rival Sir Alex Ferguson.
Wenger enjoyed many heated clashes with Ferguson’s Manchester United over the years as they shared a domination of the Premier League.
There pair shared a number of fiery moments on the touchline throughout their respective tenures before retiring, including one memorable food fight in 2004.
But Wenger, who has since taken a up a role with Fifa as their chief of global football development, insists those disagreements are firmly in the past now.
He told The Times: “These people are all very busy. I’m not close enough to them… except [pause] Ferguson, yes.”
“I have Ferguson’s number, yes.
“We have a lot of respect for each other now. We had a period when it was very tough, very hot.
“After you’re not competing any more, everyone becomes a bit more objective.
“He knows better wine than I do. Ah, we had some good battles. He’s an intelligent man. You don’t make a career like this guy if you’re stupid.”
Wenger also made a startling revelation about Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who he admits he is not in touch with at the moment.
“When Guardiola was still a player he came to my home to ask to play for Arsenal,” the 70-year-old revealed.
At the time I had Vieira. I had Gilberto Silva. I couldn’t take him.”
Wenger also revealed that he has been offered the main job at United in the past, which he obviously declined.
When asked when, he replied: “I don’t tell you that.
“But I can tell you Man Utd offered me the job but I don’t tell you when."
