Barcelona great Rivaldo has opened up on why Manchester United would have been the English side he would have joined from the Spanish giants.
The Brazilian was linked with a move to Old Trafford after the Reds completed the historic treble in 1999 but was unwilling to leave Barcelona at the time.
And Rivaldo - who won the Ballon d'Or during his time with the Spanish giants - has revealed he always had a particular affection for United.
“At the time that there were rumours about my potential transfer to Manchester United, they had recently won the Champions League in an epic final against Bayern Munich,” he told Betfair.
“I was in the stands at the Nou Camp that night and thought that, if I were going to play in the Premier League one day, my club of choice would be United.
“Of course, there were other good clubs in England then like Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool, but United always caught my attention for everything they were achieving and the way they were playing in those days.
“Sir Alex Ferguson always said good things about me when I faced them, so I have a particular affection for the club and it would be my choice if I was allowed to pick any club in the Premier League.
“I remember playing against them in the Champions League, especially in two huge games that ended with the same result - 3-3 - one at Old Trafford and the other at Camp Nou in the 1998/99 competition.”
