Sir Alex Ferguson was on the verge of taking over as Arsenal manager before deciding to join Manchester United in 1986. The story was revealed by former Gunners player Charlie Nicholas, who was a Scotland teammate under Ferguson at the time.Nicholas recalled details from the 1986 World Cup, when Ferguson told him that he had received an offer from Arsenal.“I was terrified": Sir Alex opens up about brain haemorrhage“Fergie said to me: ‘I want to take you for a glass of wine. I need to speak to you about something.’ We had a stroll out outside the camp and he said: 'Tell me about Arsenal.’ So I told him. I said: ‘Great club, it just needs shaking up.’ I said, we've never managed to get with some top players there. We've just never got a team gel. The ingredients are all there, but we are missing a heartbeat. And he says they've made the contract. I was like: ‘Oh, I said, no disrespect, but that would be fantastic.’ I think it'd be wonderful news for me. And it'd be wonderful news for the Arsenal."The former striker says Ferguson liked Arsenal’s proposal and the idea of having complete control over the dressing room. However, the very next day, the Scottish manager told him that he had accepted Manchester United’s offer.##EDITORS_CHOICE##“I've just accepted a Manchester United job'. Absolutely gutted. I thought, man, I thought, you know what? I can understand where you're coming from with the Man U thing. I thought we were in a position to get success quicker. But he’d given his word.”Ferguson then spent 27 years in charge of Manchester United, becoming the most decorated manager in the club’s history with 13 English league titles and 38 trophies in total. Arsenal, meanwhile, appointed Arsene Wenger a decade later, opening a new golden chapter in the club’s history.##NAJAVA_MECA_10013440##
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