Juventus legend Pavel Nedved has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United during his playing career. Back in his prime, Nedved was widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the world and in 2003, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry. talksport
Juventus legend Pavel Nedved has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United during his playing career. Back in his prime, Nedved was widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the world and in 2003, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.
Juventus legend Pavel Nedved has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United during his playing career. Back in his prime, Nedved was widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the world and in 2003, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.
“My agent received some offers and I have always been a great supporter of Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, specifically, at that time. “They were certainly one of our greatest opponents and also a great source of inspiration and drive and desire. “[Ferguson] achieved great things, unprecedented things and I don’t know if anyone else in the future will be able to achieve what he did.”
The former Czech Republic international, now Juve’s vice president, was one of only five players to stick with the club when they were sent down to Serie B. It endeared him to fans further and Nedved insists it was an easy decision to stick with the Old Lady. “I have always been asked this question – whether it was difficult or not to stay in that critical moment,” he added. “And my answer has always been no. It was actually easy to stay.
“The other players who made the same decision thought the same – that is: what would have happened if we had all left the club? “We decided to stay because we felt the responsibility to return to the club exactly what we had received.“The club believed in us so it was the right time to give back. That’s why it was easy.”