Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Luke Shaw when he was 16, but saw their offer turned down by Southampton.
Shaw, 19, moved to Old Trafford this summer in a move costing United £30m and after returning to full fitness, the England international is finally starting to find his feet at his new club.
Former boss Ferguson, who played a significant part in the transfer for Shaw, has admitted that he attempted to do the deal three years ago.
“The signing of Shaw was the one we were trying to get at 16 years of age,” he said.
“They wouldn’t sell him to us but said we would be the first to know if they ever did, and Ed Woodward has followed that through.
“We got him for I think it was £30m. [He’s a] talented boy, good footballer, likes to get forward all the time.
Ferguson also commented on the summer signing of Ander Herrera, a player who impressed against United for Athletic Bilbao three years ago.
“[Herrera] played against us three years ago for Bilbao in the Europa League.
“They gave us a right battering. We scouted him quite a lot at the time, obviously they tried to get him last year but it collapsed for whatever reason.”