'I would have done anything to keep him' - The Manchester United cult hero Sir Alex Ferguson was devastated not to keep

Only two footballers who've played for Manchester United have ever won the European Golden Boot.

One, predictably, is Cristiano Ronaldo. The four-time top scorer in Europe is bested only by Lionel Messi.

The other Red Devils player to appear on this illustrious list may not be as widely known. Despite being at Old Trafford for a mere 10 weeks, this individual's impact since his departure 16 years ago remains substantial. This person is none other than Henrik Larsson.

The Swede answered Sir Alex Ferguson's call back in 2007 and despite only playing for the Old Trafford outfit for a number of weeks, he became a fan favourite - with Fergie later revealing his regret at not being able to keep hold of the former Celtic and Barcelona forward.

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Back in January 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson faced a crucial problem. His team needed bolstering as they sought to maintain their stride during a rebuilding phase.

United commenced the campaign without Ruud van Nistelrooy but had struggled to find the back of the net regularly, even amidst a successful run from Louis Saha. However, the French forward's fitness issues were cause for concern.

With strikers Alan Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both recuperating from injuries, Ferguson's options were limited up front. Nevertheless, his long-standing interest in Larsson prevailed.

Many thought the chance to see Larsson donning a Man United jersey had passed - given the Swede was 35 and having already enjoyed glittering success at Celtic.

The chance for United to sign Swedish star Larsson came when he was at his best, scoring goals left