Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that United tried to sign 
Tottenham Hotspur star, Gareth Bale, when he was still a kid at Southampton. After our bid failed, he later joined Spurs for £10m and has gone from strength to strength.
“We tried to sign him as a 16 or 17-year-old boy,” said Ferguson. “Southampton had a Scottish chief executive and George Burley was the manager. I don’t know the full circumstances but they didn’t accept our offer and I think they must have alerted Tottenham.”
Fergie is still a fan of the Spurs winger and is praiseworthy of what he’s done this season.
“Bale has made the best contribution without a doubt. Eleven goals for a wide player is a really good return.”
The 21-year-old has been a pivotal figure in Spurs’ challenge for the Premier League this season and run to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, drawing praise from Ferguson.
The United boss added: “Bale has made the best contribution without a doubt. Eleven goals for a wide player is a really good return.”
Ferguson, however, is also wary of the threat posed by Bale’s fellow creative players at Tottenham, continuing: “Van der Vaart has made a contribution goals-wise.
“He has good ability on the ball, so he has been a good signing and Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon are also dangerous.”