'I knew never to go back' - Four players who said no to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

When Erik ten Hag enters the summer transfer market, he may find it difficult to sell the project of Manchester United as it currently stands.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, United have been on a downward trajectory and have struggled to come close to being Premier League title challengers. However, even when the Reds were at their height of popularity under the legendary Scot, they still suffered rejection.

MEN Sport has taken a closer look at five players who rejected the advances of Ferguson. First up on the list is former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale.

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Like most of the Premier League, Ferguson was aware of the talent Bale possessed as he developed at Southampton. The Welshman had all the makings of Ryan Giggs' successor.

Even when United approached the forward, Bale could see the pros of joining. But, he made the courageous decision to reject a switch to Old Trafford.

"United would have been the easiest decision," he told Airwayz. "They were winning trophies, had the best players and the best manager.

"At that age, a lot of players would go for the money and would want to go to a bigger club. But I was playing, developing and learning.

"It was an important part of my development to keep playing first-team football because you can’t replicate that." Ultimately he chose to join Spurs and Ferguson probably did not have too big an issue with the winger's thought process.

However, the Patrick Kluivert saga was a different tale entirely. In 1998, the centre-forward had just enjoyed a good season with AC Milan and was beginning to weigh up his next move.

Ferguson