I was told to snub Manchester United and sign for Tottenham - I shouldn't have listened
manchestereveningnews.co.ukSir Alex Ferguson was in Malta when he read the bad news - a holiday cut short in the worst possible way. It was the summer of 1988 and Paul Gascoigne had agreed to join Tottenham after Newcastle United's £2.2million valuation had been met, but they weren't the first to do so.
Manchester United had already put their cash on the table. "Can I go on holiday knowing that I've signed you, Gazza?” Ferguson asked over the phone.
The response was an outright yes but this deal was far from done, and it never got done at all. ALSO READ: I worked for Ratcliffe and Ineos - he should learn from mistakes ALSO READ: United explain Berrada appointment Ferguson was in his early years as United manager in the late 1980s and was keen to bring in that kind of talent that won matches and titles.
It was during a game against Newcastle in 1987 that he first laid eyes on that exact player. Managed by Willie McFaul, the Magpies had been meandering in the lower half of the First Division but they had a star in their ranks by the name of Paul Gascoigne.
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