'I regret not moving earlier' - Sir Alex Fergsuon tried to sign player four times before he eventually joined Manchester United

It is not often a player turns down the chance to join Manchester United. It is even less often that they do it four times.

Yet that is the situation Sir Alex Ferguson found himself in as he looked to reinforce his defensive options with a centre-back numerous times during his most successful spell at the club.

In the summer of 1995, the legendary manager was searching for a new defender when he made an approach to signing one who had shone against his side four years earlier.

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Laurent Blanc was already 29 at that point but Ferguson wasn't deterred from bringing the French defender to Old Trafford, having been so impressed by him when they had played Montpellier in the successful European Cup-Winners’ Cup campaign.

The experienced defender had just scored 13 goals, yes, really, in his last season at Saint-Étienne, one in which they only avoided relegation because Marseille were denied promotion due to their financial difficulties.

An offer to join United was tempting, but Blanc was reluctant to leave France again, having struggled during a solitary season with Napoli earlier in his career.

Instead, he joined Auxerre, who he helped win a famous league and cup double, which again alerted the top teams in Europe to his signature.

Another offer from United came, but instead, Blanc opted to join Barcelona and the opportunity to play under legendary figure Johan Cruyff. The very same day that he agreed to join the club, the Dutchman was sacked.

"The funny thing is that when I arrived in Barcelona [in 1996], Sir Alex