- Paul Gascogine has reflected on how he nearly moved to Man United in 1988
- He instead joined Tottenham, after Spurs gave his parents a house and a car
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Paul Gascoigne left Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards in stitches after delivering a hilarious response to whether he feels he would have fitted in at Sir Alex Ferguson‘s Manchester United team.
The 57-year-old enjoyed a glittering playing career for both club and country, scoring 39 goals across 184 appearances in the English first division and is widely seen as a national hero after his feats helping England reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup.
Gascoigne, known for his flamboyant personality, began his career at Newcastle before signing for Tottenham in 1988.
He later revealed Man United had attempted to sign him that same year but he turned down Ferguson’s offers to join the Red Devils, claiming Spurs had offered his mum and dad a car, house, £20,000 and a phone. He added that they also offered his sister a sunbed.
It meant he could have moved to Old Trafford to play alongside some of the biggest names in world football, including Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs.
And when asked whether he thought he would fit in at Old Trafford, Gascoigne gave a humorous response.
‘Gazza what idiot turns down Man United?’ Shearer, who himself rejected a move to Old Trafford, asked the legendary Premier League striker during an interview on The Rest Is Football Podcast.
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Gascoigne responded: ‘People always say would it have been different if I had signed for Man United? Would he [me] have kept us under control?
‘Well, Eric Cantona two-footed somebody in the neck in the stands. Wayne Rooney went with a granny. And Ryan Giggs went with his brother’s wife… So I might have fitted in!’
Shearer, Lineker and Richards erupted in fits of laughter at Gascoigne’s hilarious comments.
Lineker added: ‘Ah Micah’s on the floor! Where are you, Micah? You still around?’
The camera cuts to Richards’ feed, with the former Man City and Aston Villa defender falling to the ground out of shot as he laughed at Gascoigne.
Lineker continued: ‘You’ve got a point Gazza. It’s a good point. I mean I must say I get that all the time.
‘I always hear that they say: “Ah Gazza would have been fine under Sir Alex Ferguson.”
‘I think you’d have been just as good.’
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Seeming to finally shake off the laughter, Shearer responded: ‘Oh that’s brilliant Gazza!’
Instead of joining United, Gascoigne went on to play 111 games for Tottenham, scoring 33 times.
He would establish himself as a club legend, helping Spurs win the FA Cup in 1991 – the last time the north London outfit lifted the trophy.
The midfielder enjoyed a sensational career, also playing for Lazio in Serie A and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, before going on to represent Middlesbrough, Everton and Burnley.
His United snub is thought to have caused a rift between him and the Scottish football manager.
‘I saw him not long ago, Alex Ferguson,’ Gascoigne said in an interview with Rob Moore in 2022. ‘He’s 82 and it was at a game last year. So I was told, “Paul, Alex Ferguson wants to see you.” I thought, “F***, here we go again.”
‘And he went “How we doing?” I said, “I’m alright, thanks.” Then, “You b*****d, why didn’t you f***ing sign for me when you had the chance, no one ever f***ing lets me down”. I said, “I know, I’m sorry.” “You were some f***ing player then, son.”
‘I’m still annoyed looking at him, thinking, “F***, what a manager.” He took no s**t. I reckon I’d have gotten a few b******ings from him definitely but I’d have been the same player.’