Carlo Ancelotti has spoken for the first time about rejecting an approach from Sir Alex Ferguson to take over as Manchester United boss after the legendary Scot’s retirement in 2013.
Ancelotti is one of only three managers to have won the Champions League three times, and that feat hadn’t gone unnoticed with Ferguson.
Ferguson was unable to lure Ancelotti to Old Trafford in 2013
The Italian, whose Everton side face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night – which is LIVE on talkSPORT – had all but agreed to join Real Madrid at the time but was grateful to Ferguson for considering him in the first place.
Recalling the proposal from Ferguson, he said: You want to know from me?!
I can say that I still keep a fantastic relationship with Sir Alex, and we met when he decided to [retire].
But I was close to Real Madrid, and so I appreciate the fact that at that time he talked to me. And thats it, no other opportunity [to manage United].
Moyes endured a disastrous spell as Manchester United boss
David Moyes was eventually named as Ferguson’s successor – largely thanks to a glowing reference from his fellow countryman – but he was sacked after just eight months.
Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have also filled the Old Trafford hotseat, with club legend Solskjaer currently two years into his rollercoaster tenure at United.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, has gone on to manage Bayern Munich and Napoli since Ferguson’s retirement and is now 12 months into his reign at Everton.
You can listen to live commentary of Everton vs Manchester United tonight on talkSPORT, kick-off 8pm