06 January 2024 , 08:00
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Former Chelsea star Damien Duff has opened up about his failed transfer to Manchester United, revealing he "looked like a d**k" when he met with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Duff had impressed after coming through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers and was the subject of strong interest from United and Liverpool in the summer of 2003. The winger even met Ferguson in person to discuss a potential move to Old Trafford, but the deal ultimately fell through.
Instead, Duff ended up joining Chelsea as one of the first signings under Roman Abramovich, with both United and Liverpool unwilling to pay his Blackburn release clause. Recalling the failed move on the Open Goal podcast, Duff said: "It nearly happened with both [United and Liverpool].
"I'm not sure what my get out [clause] was with Blackburn, maybe £15million or £16million. I went for 17-point-something [million]. It was maybe too much for them. Chelsea was never on my radar.
"Ideally, it would have been Man Utd, Liverpool, great clubs with Irish connections. I met Alex Ferguson and spoke to him. When you spend time with him and talk to him about football, you want to play for him.
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"I think I just cost too much and they got better wingers than me in the end. I met him in the kitman's house. I think Fergie did all his business in Albert's house. Albert picked me up at the airport and brought me there.
Duff ended up joining Chelsea instead (AFP via Getty Images)"I didn't say a word for two or three hours. I was still a baby, 21 or 22. I just stared at him. I was probably dribbling as well. Ma made me wear a shirt and tie, as Irish mothers do. I was suited and booted.
"I looked like a d**k, probably. That's probably why he didn't sign me. I was just dribbling looking at him." United's former chief executive David Gill was quizzed on why the move never happened by the club's shareholders later that year and said Ferguson had simply decided Duff was "not worth that money" and that the club had "sufficient cover" out wide.
"We discussed it and were interested," Gill said. "We asked for the value of the player and we knew his personal terms, we had discussions with his agent. The manager assesses what the player would be worth against other players and the assessment of the manager was that Duff was not worth that money. He felt he had sufficient cover."