Ex-Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy has admitted he rejected interest from Manchester United in 2003 and considered retiring from football due to injury problems.
The Welshman was playing for Newcastle at the time, becoming a key player for the Magpies under the tutelage of Sir Bobby Robson.
Bellamy battled knee injuries during his time with the Magpies, requiring a number of surgeries to solve a tendonitis issue.
He revealed he considered retiring from football during a pre-season tournament in Asia and rejected the chance to join United as it didn't feel he could compete in such a star-studded squad due to his constant problems.
"We were in Malaysia, Sky covered a tournament in Malaysia. It was us, Newcastle, Chelsea and a Malaysian team. I was struggling with tendinitis at the time in both knees and I remember we played Birmingham, and Chelsea in the final," he told Sky Sports.
"I sat next to a guy from Hong Kong and we were just having a conversation about football and I just said, 'I want it to be over. I don't want to play anymore. I'm in too much pain.' I can't play to the level I want to, when Newcastle have invested in me heavily to play well.
"I didn't feel I could justify it. I didn't feel I was in a position. Manchester United were interested in me as well.
"They were interested in me that summer, I didn't feel I could go there because I was in no position to compete with the players they had. I just felt tortured."
Bellamy went on to feature for two of United's rivals in Liverpool and Manchester City before retiring in 2014.
