Liverpool icon Ian Rush reveals Manchester United interest
Liverpool icon Ian Rush has let slip a fascinating secret from his playing days – Sir Alex Ferguson once tried to bring him to Manchester United, reports BritPanorama.
The 64-year-old made the revelation while chatting at Aintree on Friday, where both football legends were enjoying the horse racing. When asked by ITV whether he respected what Rush achieved during his career, Ferguson couldn’t resist a playful jab: “Absolutely, I hated him. He’s a top man.”
Rush then dropped the bombshell about Ferguson’s approach back in 1988. “When I was coming back from Juventus he tried to sign me,” the former Wales striker revealed. “By the way, he is a legend of managers, Scottish managers are the best.”
This moment reflects a potential turning point for Rush, who had spent six brilliant years at Anfield before heading to Juventus in 1987. His Italian adventure lasted just one season, and Ferguson – who had arrived at Old Trafford from Aberdeen in 1986 – was keen to enhance his forward line with the Liverpool star.
Rush ultimately returned to Liverpool, but he could easily have joined the select group of players who’ve turned out for both clubs. That list includes notable names such as Paul Ince, Michael Owen, and Peter Beardsley among the ten who’ve worn both famous shirts.
Notably, Rush went on to become Liverpool’s all-time leading scorer, netting 339 goals in 654 appearances. In addition to his football achievements, Rush expressed his enthusiasm for horse racing, stating, “I love horse racing, I love everything about it, that’s what it’s all about. We love football and that but it’s not golf for me, it’s horse racing for that is second best.” Ferguson shares that passion, having been a dedicated owner over the years with horses like Caldwell Potter, Protektorat, and L’Eau du Sud in his stable.
The 84-year-old Scot, of course, went on to extraordinary success at United – claiming 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies across an incredible 1,500 matches in charge. This brief glimpse into the past is a reminder that the fates of these football legends could have been intertwined in ways history did not foresee.
