Sir Alex Ferguson has shed light on Michael Carrick’s move from Spurs to Manchester United.
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy
Sir Alex Ferguson has told the Manchester United official website that signing Michael Carrick from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 was ‘very difficult’ due to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s haggling.
Carrick has been handed a testimonial after more than ten years at Old Trafford, having joined the Red Devils back in the summer of 2006.
The midfielder had impressed in two seasons with Tottenham Hotspur, making 75 appearances for the club having joined from West Ham United in 2004 – but after flashing quality for England at the 2006 World Cup, United swooped to land him.
Carrick has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with United having won five Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and the Champions League, all whilst making almost 450 appearances for the club.
This summer, Carrick will turn out in his United testimonial, and ahead of that game, his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken about the ‘very difficult’ transfer that brought the midfielder to Old Trafford 11 years ago.
Speaking to the United official website, Ferguson admitted that the deal was ‘typical Daniel Levy’, as the Tottenham chairman kept wanting more money for his prized asset – but eventually, the deal was struck, and United got to see the best of Carrick as a result.
Manchester United’s Michael Carrick with Sir Alex Ferguson
“I must say negotiations were very difficult and went on for ages,” said Ferguson. “I always remember I thought it was done and [former chief executive] David Gill phoned me on the golf course to say they want more. Typical [Spurs chairman] Daniel Levy! It was very hard to negotiate but, at the end of the day, we got it through and, ever since he joined us, he’s had a fantastic career,” he added.
Intriguingly, Levy may have to go through the same process again this summer, as The Sun report that United boss Jose Mourinho wants a current Spurs star – Eric Dier – to join the Red Devils as Carrick’s heir.
Tottenham certainly won’t want to sell to a main rival, and whilst a £40million fee has been mentioned, Levy will naturally want to get every last penny out of United in order to sanction a deal – just as he did with Carrick 11 years ago.
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