Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson turned down the opportunity to sign Zinedine Zidane.
The Frenchman, voted United's best ever player in a fans' poll, claimed the United boss did not act when he had the chance to swoop for the playmaker prior to his move from Bordeaux to Juventus in 1996.
Zidane - now 30 - blossomed at Bordeaux prior to joining the Italian giants, who he left for Real Madrid five years later.
The Frenchman excelled in Real's 3-1 Champions League quarter-final win over United last week - and scored a stunning goal for the Spanish side in last season's final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.
And Cantona, who joined United from Leeds in 1992 and won five Premiership titles and two FA Cups with United, prior to quitting Old Trafford in 1997, said Zidane could have been his team-mate.
Asked by Football Focus whether he had recommended Ferguson sign Zidane, Cantona said: "I don't know how you know it.
"I will never say to you these kind of things - but you know it so maybe somebody has told you.
"Yes he was in Bordeaux, he was young, he was free and I recommended him of course.
"They went to see him in a few games and maybe he wasn't in his best form. I think so because Ferguson knows football perfectly."
Cantona, 37 next month added: "It was a mistake I think. They took some great player instead of him - but I think it was a mistake."
PA