Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe explains how he was left astonished to find out Barcelona were previously interested in signing him.
The 52-year-old spent eight years at Old Trafford between 1988 and 1996, making 244 appearances and scoring 33 goals. During that time he won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the League Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup.
Sharpe, who celebrated goals with his preferred shuffle dance, went on to play for Leeds, Sampdoria, Bradford and Portsmouth.
There was an opportunity for Sharpe to join Barcelona, although he did not find out about the Catalan side’s interest until years later.
When he shared a hot tub with fellow ex-United player Jordi Cruyff, Sharpe discovered that Barca had been monitoring him, but he was completely unaware of it.
Jordi’s father, Dutch legend Johan, was manager of Barcelona between 1988 and 1996. His son told Sharpe that he was on the La Liga club’s radar.
Speaking to Instant Casino, as per The Sun, Sharpe said: “I was chatting to fellow former United player Jordi Cruyff once in a jacuzzi of all places, and he was asking me why I never made the move from United to Barcelona.
“I didn’t know what he meant, I had never even thought of that as an option before he said that!
“I asked him what he meant, and Jordi then told me that I had been at the top of his father – Johan Cruyff’s – shopping list for a spot in his Barcelona team for a couple of years while he was manager there.
“Apparently, according to Jordi, a phone call had been made to Manchester United by Barcelona, but I never got told about it.
“Who knows what may have happened if I’d have known about it!”
Sharpe was also asked about his former team-mate David Beckham, who now owns MLS side Inter Miami. He added: “As a player, David Beckham was quite quiet. I know he always had a very outgoing media image and presence, but he’s a lovely guy and kept himself to himself.
“Sometimes he came out with the lads at Man Utd, but he always trained hard.
“I could have never have imagined him doing half of the stuff he has done in his career since we played together, he’s an amazing man who’s achieved so much.
“To go on to be England captain as well as a World Cup campaigner, and now owning Inter Miami in the United States, he’s up there as an absolute icon but also as an unbelievable bloke.
“I just never expected any of that to happen – I didn’t have him down as someone who could own a football club! I’m happy for him though and glad to see him doing so well with Inter Miami.”
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
