Jonny Evans says Sir Alex Ferguson apologised for signing £24m Man Utd player when he retired

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Alex Ferguson’s retirement at Manchester United back in 2013 was one of the most important moments in modern football history.

Alex Ferguson defined Manchester United as a club for almost 30 years, and when he decided to step down, everything changed at Old Trafford.

Fergie left United as Premier League champions, and he left a playing squad behind that he didn’t owe much to.

The core of that squad had achieved all they could under Ferguson by that point with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand all getting to enjoy their best years under the legendary gaffer.

However, there is one player in that squad who may have felt a bit hung out to dry.

Indeed, Robin van Persie arrived at United just a year prior with the idea of joining a winning machine and playing under one of the greatest managers in history. However, just 12 months later, he was working under David Moyes in a struggling side.

Speaking on the Official Manchester United Podcast, Jonny Evans has been discussing Ferguson’s retirement, and he says that the United boss actually apologised to Van Persie for signing him for £24m after announcing his retirement as he’d made him feel like he was going to be at Old Trafford for a little while.

Alex Ferguson apologised to Robin van Persie for signing him

Evans spoke about Ferguson’s retirement announcement.

“I’d kind of forgotten that he had a meeting in the dressing room with the lads. He apologised to Robin van Persie for signing him and making him feel like he was going to be there. I do remember that, but I don’t remember too many other details about it,” Evans said.

Would he have signed?

It’s very interesting to hear that Ferguson apologised to Van Perise for signing him upon announcing his retirement.

In all honesty, Van Persie probably had every right to be annoyed as he may well have been sold a bit of a dream upon signing for United that never came to pass.

Of course, he did win one league title, but after Fergie left, everything went downhill.

Let’s not forget, Manchester City also wanted to sign Van Persie at the time, and perhaps if he knew the 2012/13 season would’ve been Alex Ferguson’s last, Van Persie would’ve headed to the Etihad rather than Old Trafford at the time.