Wanyama's Wild Near-Miss: Sir Alex Scouted Me for United, But Retirement Ruined It!

Picture this: you're a young Victor Wanyama, tearing it up at Celtic, and suddenly the gaffer of Manchester United, none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, rocks up to watch you in the Champions League. Sounds like the stuff of dreams, right? Well, the Kenyan midfield destroyer has just dropped that bombshell on a podcast, revealing how close he came to swapping Glasgow for Old Trafford.

As reported by The Peoples Person via OneFootball, Wanyama spilled the beans on the In Conversation with Chaxy Podcast. But more on that juicy bit later. First, let's rewind to how this beast of a player crashed into English football.

Breaking into the Prem: Saints and Sensations

Back in 2013, Wanyama etched his name in history as the first Kenyan to grace the Premier League. He rocked up at Southampton from Celtic for a whopping £12.5 million – a Scottish record that had everyone raising eyebrows.

His debut season was a bit stop-start, thanks to injuries sidelining him to barely 20 games. But boy, did he bounce back the next year. We're talking his first Saints goal in a gritty 1-0 win over Swansea, a belter in the 8-0 demolition of Sunderland, and that absolute pearler – a 40-yard rocket against Hull City that had Southampton dreaming of top-two finishes.

In total, 85 Premier League outings for the Saints before Tottenham came calling in 2016 with an £11 million bid. Solid foundation for a lad who could mix it with the best.

Spurs Tackler Turned MLS Journeyman

At Tottenham, Wanyama became the midfield enforcer we all loved – or feared, depending on your team. Tough as teak, no-nonsense, the kind of guy who'd leave opponents picking up their dignity from the turf.

His highlight reel? That thunderbolt equaliser against Liverpool in February 2018 during the 2016/17 season (hang on, timelines a tad fuzzy there, but you get the point – it was a screamer that bagged Goal of the Month honours). Pure box-office stuff.

Injuries, though, the eternal party-pooper, reduced him to a bench-warmer role later on. By 2020, he waved goodbye to north London and headed stateside to CF Montréal in MLS, where he's now 34 and still grafting away.

Fergie's Secret Scout Mission: The Transfer That Wasn't

Now, the real meat and potatoes. Wanyama didn't mince words: "When I left Celtic, I almost signed with Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson had even come to watch the Champions League matches."

He explained Fergie skipped the domestic games because Celtic were steamrollering the league – no point scouting when you're dominating pub teams, eh? But on that big European night, word got back to Wanyama in the dressing room: the boss was in the stands, eyes on him.

He delivered, chatted with the legend post-match, and thought it was in the bag. Then... poof. Rumours swirled that Fergie was hanging up his hairdryer, and the deal evaporated. "I knew it was never meant to be," Wanyama sighed.

Imagine United's midfield with Wanyama alongside the likes of Carrick or Scholes? Ferguson retiring robbed us of a proper powerhouse partnership. Gutting, innit?

These days, United are gearing up for Aston Villa at Old Trafford this Sunday. Maybe they'll be wishing for a Wanyama-type wrecking ball in the engine room. What a 'what if' story to chew over with your pint – cheers to the one that got away!