How Paolo Di Canio rejected Man Utd despite Sir Alex Ferguson's Christmas Day call

As Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson attracted some of biggest talents in Europe to Old Trafford over course of his 26-year-long career. likes of Cristia Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Nani, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane were some of players that Sir Alex Ferguson mand to recruit during his tenure as Manchester United boss. However, one player he could t convince to come to Old Trafford was former West Ham United skipper Paolo Di Canio.

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Di Canio failed Man Utd move: How Paolo Di Canio rejected Manchester United despite Sir Alex Ferguson's Christmas Day call

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In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Paolo Di Canio opened up about time when Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him for Manchester United on Christmas Day in 2001. Di Canio was quoted as saying, "I thought it was a joke, I thought it was my friend from Italy. My stomach went a bit because it makes you think you have underestimated yourself, that you are bigger than what you thought. Man United call you, try to persuade you to move because y want you. For a couple of minutes, you feel big and strong. It was strange for me to say to Sir Alex. I said 'thanks, 1000 times thanks, but I can't. West Ham are family that warmed to me in worst moment in my life, I'm skipper, I can't.' He told me, 'Paolo, respect for this, I love people that think in this way' to which I replied, You are man that I thought you were."

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Paulo Di Canio and a young Frank Lampard go at it over a penalty kick

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