How Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement changed the career of Manchester United's teenage prodigy

Nick Powell has revealed speaking to Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to join Manchester United ahead of Arsenal.

Powell joined United from Crewe Alexandra for £6million in July 2012 but the teenage prodigy made just nine appearances for the club, scoring once, before loan spells at Wigan, Leicester City and Hull. He then joined Wigan permanently before signing for Stoke in 2019.

Powell was weighing up several offers as interest soared in the teenager. United, Arsenal and David Moyes' Everton were at the top of the list.

Despite being a huge fan of Arsene Wenger and the 'Invincibles' team, Powell revealed a chat with Ferguson swayed him to join the club.

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“I was a massive Arsene Wenger fan, so I was torn between Arsenal and United,” he told The Athletic. “Growing up, Wengerball was perfection. They might not have won as much as United but, when they did, that was how I envisioned football — perfection, lovely to watch.

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“It was a tough decision until I met Fergie. I don’t get taken aback when I meet ‘heroes’ because I see it as a job. But it was meeting Fergie that made up my mind.”

Things didn't work out for Powell. Having scored on his United debut and made several first-team appearances, an injury setback and the retirement of Ferguson would prove pivotal in shaping his Old Trafford career.

“In my first year with Fergie, I got to play a few games,” Powell explained. “Just being involved with the first team, listening to him, feeling wanted by him, was enough for me to think, ‘Right, that’s a good start’.

“Then, in