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Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel was not the only iconic midfielder to have snubbed Manchester United for Chelsea
French World Cup-winning midfielder Emmanuel Petit recently shared that legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made desperate attempts to bring him to Old Trafford, even after he had already signed with Chelsea.
Petit, who had previously made his mark at Arsenal, revealed how close he came to playing under Ferguson before Chelsea's Claudio Ranieri swayed him.
Ferguson’s persistence for Petit
The former Barcelona midfielder disclosed that Ferguson made two separate calls in a bid to convince him to join United when he was unhappy in Catalonia.
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One of these calls came two weeks after the Frenchman had already committed to Chelsea, according to Petit.
The 1998 World Cup winner spoke about Ferguson’s advances, saying, "Sir Alex Ferguson called me twice, knowing I wasn’t happy at Barcelona.
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"We spoke at length about United’s project, but it was Claudio Ranieri who made the personal touch. He came to meet me, and over lunch, he convinced me that Chelsea was the right move."
The decision mirrored the saga involving Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel years later, who also had to choose between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Petit’s illustrious career
Having won four major trophies with Arsenal, including the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1997-98, Petit had already made a name for himself in England before moving to Spain.
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His move to Barcelona in 2000, alongside Marc Overmars, proved difficult, with the Frenchman describing his time at the club as a "war in the changing room" between Dutch and Catalan players.
His return to the Premier League with Chelsea saw him finish his career in London, but injuries plagued his final seasons, and he missed out on Jose Mourinho’s title-winning reign by just a season.
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In addition to his titles with Arsenal, Petit also won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship with France, as well as the French league and Coupe de France titles with Monaco.
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