Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy has revealed that he came very close to joining Manchester United back in 2002.

The 35-year-old recently retired from football after a stellar career that saw him represent clubs like Newcastle United and Liverpool. However, he would have had the ultimate glory of playing for United and winning numerous titles as Sir Alex Ferguson himself was interested in signing him. Bellamy has revealed that Ferguson approached his agent in 2002 and asked if a potential transfer to United was possible. However, Bellamy rejected the opportunity since he had to undergo any operation at that time.

Further, Newcastle were a buoyant club back then with aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League on a regular basis under the management of Bryan Robson. After failing to secure a move to such a high-profile club, Bellamy moved away from Newcastle three years later to Blackburn. He has since played for several clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, and West Ham before recently retiring after representing his boyhood club Cardiff City. The striker played his last game for West Ham in the 2-1 loss against archrivals Chelsea and he revealed that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho remarked that he was a champion after the match.

"Fergie met with my agent in 2002 and said: 'Can you get him out of Newcastle?' The honest truth is my knee. I had just had an operation. I knew that if I went to Man United I would have to hit the ground running and with my knee that would have been impossible. He [Mourinho] just gave me a hug and said: 'You are a champion',” said the former striker. Bellamy is currently looking to enter into the world of football coaching and he is taking his UEFA licenses. He is targeting becoming a club manager by the age of 40.