Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe has revealed how he turned down the chance to join Manchester United in order to stay at Leeds United.
Radebe spent the first five years of his career with South African heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs, where he remarkably transitioned from a goalkeeper to a central midfielder, and finally into a centre-back.
He first arrived in the Premier League in 1994 but made just 28 appearances during his first two seasons at Elland Road. Radebe eventually established himself in the heart of defence in the 1996/97 season.
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The former South African international went onto become a club legend and amassed 256 appearances in total for Leeds. And Radebe rewarded Leeds supporters for their unflinching support by pledging his future to the club amid interest from fierce rivals Man United.
“When Manchester United came looking for me, I declined the move and I stayed at Leeds United, which was big,” Radebe told SuperSport, (via Sports Brief).
He added: “I think the offer came to the club, I was called in, the manager called me and said there was an offer from Manchester United and they want to accept it.
“I told him, no, thank you, I was happy where I was at Leeds and this is the club that introduced me to the Premier League and people looked after me and that was me. It was done.
“They were not the only club, there was an offer from Roma which I declined. I knew there was something for me at Leeds. I wanted to grow and I wanted to achieve with the club.”
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