Family loyalty prevented Italy great Paolo Maldini from moving to Manchester United from AC Milan, according to Alex Ferguson.
Two towering figures of football s modern era, Maldini won seven Serie A titles and five European titles during a 25-year Milan career, while Ferguson s 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions League triumphs established United as a dominant force at home and abroad.
Speaking at the launch event for the International Champions Cup in New York, Ferguson spoke on stage alongside Maldini and said his father – former Italy boss Cesare – gave the prospect of the all-time great left-back moving to Old Trafford short shrift.
I did try [to sign Maldini] but when I met his father he was quite formidable, I got a shake of the head, Ferguson explained in a light-hearted exchange.
He said, My grandfather is Milan, my father is, I am Milan, my sons are Milan. Forget it .
Ferguson bowed out having secured his final Premier League title at the end of the 2012-13 season and concedes to still missing the thrill of the big occasion.
I must admit, I miss the big games – the cup finals. They are fantastic, he said.
The year after I retired, I went to the Atletico Madrid versus Real Madrid final and I said to [his wife] Cathy, these are the games .
It turns inside your stomach for an hour before the game. When the players are out for their warm-up, you re on your own.
You re looking for someone to talk to, you just can t wait for the game to start. The excitement is boiling up in you and I really miss that.
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United will face local rivals City on July 20 as part of the ICC, which will also feature Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, Juventus and Roma in its Stateside leg.
Ferguson helmed pre-season tours to the United States during his later years in charge and believes such occasions add an extra intensity to a side s preparations for the forthcoming campaign.
Many years ago, our pre-season was probably done in a less intense way, he added. We d go to Scandinavia and places like that for a gentle build-up until the matchdays started in the league.
When we went to the States it became more serious.
The difference is that we can t afford to lose to Barcelona or Real Madrid or Manchester City or Milan. The expectation is too big.
That s why you always get the full product when Manchester United play in these games.
