Man Utd wanted to sign me but dream transfer fell through… I still have a copy of the offer on my phone
MANCHESTER UNITED tried and failed to sign Luigi Turci in 1999 – a moment the goalkeeper still regrets.
The Red Devils were on the lookout for an Italian keeper following their Treble success in the previous campaign.
Mark Bosnich had already arrived on a free to provide competition for the No2 spot, with Peter Schmeichel still at the peak of his powers.
United reportedly wanted Gianluigi Buffon but he rejected the club in favour of staying at Parma.
So instead Turci was identified and United made an offer to Udinese to sign the goalie.
But they were too late as the Serie A side had already confirmed their squad, with Sir Alex Ferguson instead opting for another Italian, Massimo Taibi.
Turci regrets the failed move to this day and he even still has a copy of the fax that details the proposed transfer.
He told TV Play’s Twitch channel: “In 1999-2000 Manchester United made an offer to Udinese to sign me, but unfortunately Udinese had already presented the UEFA list and Ferguson took Taibi in my place.
“United were looking for an Italian goalkeeper: the first to be contacted was Buffon, but he refused.
“The second was me, but the times didn’t match. To this day I regret that missed transfer, I have a copy of the fax on my phone.”
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Meanwhile, United are expected to look to Serie A again this summer as they try to entice Victor Osimhen away from Napoli.
The striker dreams of playing in the Premier League but Chelsea are fighting for his signature and could make a bid when the transfer window re-opens.