'I almost joined Man Utd and even met the manager – but I don't regret snubbing transfer'

Edgar Davids has recalled snubbing a transfer to Manchester United despite being left in awe during a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson. The Dutch football icon was very close to leaving Ajax for Old Trafford in 1996 before snubbing a switch to England in favour of AC Milan, who he joined on a free transfer.

Davids spent just one-and-a-half seasons at the San Siro before switching allegiances to Serie A rivals Juventus in a £3million deal in December 1997.

The 51-year-old also played for Barcelona, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace and was a player-manager at Barnet before retiring in 2014.

His time at Milan was nothing short of a nightmare. The Rossoneri changed managers twice and slumped to an 11th-place Serie A finish.

He also broke his leg in a 1-0 defeat at Perugia and struggled to reclaim a starting spot, ultimately leaving to his controversial exit.

Meanwhile, Ferguson guided United to another Premier League title – finishing seven points ahead of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool – and the Champions League semi-finals.

Despite his transfer to Milan not working out as he hoped, Davids insists he has no regrets about opting for Italy over Manchester.

“When I left Ajax in 1996 there was a good chance of me going to Manchester United,” Davids told Jim White, Tony Bellew and ‘Expressions’ on The LineUp.

“I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson and it was one of the most unbelievable experiences I had in my whole career. He was funny, charming, intelligent — basically everything you wanted.

“The big boys were in Serie A, and that’s where I wanted to go at that time of my career. That was the main reason why I chose to go to AC Milan.

“I don’t regret not going to Manchester United. I’ve seen Sir Alex since and we had a good laugh about it all and there are still the same good feelings between us.”

Davids also discussed his Dutch compatriot Erik ten Hag’s current reign at Old Trafford, claiming a lack of attacking firepower is the source of United’s struggles.

He added: “I know him [Erik ten Hag] very well. I did an internship at FC Utrecht and he was there.

“He was very innovative with lots of different things, and I was very impressed. He’s very focused and passionate about football. We all know it hasn’t gone great at Manchester United.

“They are a club trying to rebuild, and that’s never easy — but I do look at their options up front and think there’s not a prolific goalscorer there, which makes such a difference.

“For me, that’s what they are really missing. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are good, young strikers and have talent but they don’t have that experience yet.”