“I heard rumours that…”: Ex-PL midfield enforcer reveals reason why historic United move collapsed despite talks with Sir Alex

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfield enforcer Victor Wanyama has revealed that he came close to joining Manchester United, but the transfer fell through despite having a conversation with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. England stint Wanyama made history in 2013 when he became the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League after he moved to Southampton from Celtic. He joined the Saints for a then-record £12.5 million fee for a Scottish club. His first season at Southampton was disrupted by injuries, which limited him to just over 20 appearances across all competitions. The following campaign proved far more successful. Its highlights included his first goal in a 1-0 win over Swansea, a strike in an 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland, and a spectacular 40-yard winner against Hull City that, at one stage, helped keep Southampton second in the table. Wanyama made 85 Premier League appearances for Southampton before he left for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 for £11m. Wanyama built a reputation at Tottenham as a tough, no-nonsense presence in midfield. His finest moment arguably came during the 2016/17 campaign when he unleashed a thunderous equaliser against Liverpool in February 2018, a goal that went on to win the league’s Goal of the Month award. But injuries reared their ugly head again, limiting him to a squad role for the remainder of his time at Tottenham. He parted ways with the North London outfit in 2020 to sign for Major League Soccer side CF Montréal. Speaking on the In Conversation with Chaxy Podcast, he described how he almost moved to United after a scouting mission by Sir Alex. However, it didn’t materialise because the United icon retired from management. Wanyama makes revelation Wanyama said, “When I left Celtic, I almost signed with Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson had even come to watch the Champions League matches.” “He did not come to watch the league matches because at the time, it was not competitive, and we were beating all our opponents.” The 34-year-old continued, “On that day, I had already been told, in the dressing room, that Ferguson had come to watch me play. I did my best, I even talked to him after the game, and then he left.” “Shortly after, I heard rumours that he wanted to retire, and I knew that it was never meant to be.” Meanwhile, United are next in action on Sunday when they host Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Feature image Catherine Ivill via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!