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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

Steven Gerrard actually played for Man Utd and Sir Alex Ferguson was 'desperate' to sign him ahead of Liverpool

Steven Gerrard arrives at Old Trafford this evening as Aston Villa manager.

The Liverpool legend goes up against Manchester United tonight in the FA Cup, a club he loved to get one over in his playing days.

He famously kissed the camera in celebrating during a 4-1 win in 2009, and repeated the trick in 2014 after scoring twice from the penalty spot.

And he's been involved in some fiery clashes with United over the years, getting sent off 38 seconds after coming off the bench against United in 2015 at Anfield.

It is fair to say there is no love lost between Gerrard and United, so it is interesting to know that he actually played for Liverpool's bitter rivals twice in his youth football days.

He even had dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson, who Gerrard says was "desperate" to sign him.

"I wore the red of United in two trial games," Gerrard said in his book, published by the News of the World.

"After doing well in those games United offered me a three-year pro contract.

"I even met their legendary manager. A group of trialists had dinner with Mr Ferguson, as he was then. Michael Owen was meant to be at the meal, but didn't turn up.

"We sat and listened in awe to one of the managerial greats. He had heard about me and desperately wanted me to sign, but I was never going to sign for United.

"I looked around other clubs partly to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract."

Gerrard went on to sign for Liverpool, making more than 500 appearances for the Reds over a 17-year period. He finished his playing career with LA Galaxy before going into coaching with Liverpool's Under-18s.

In 2018 he took the hotseat at Rangers before being lured back to the Premier League late last year by Villa.

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