Legendary former Rangers star Brian Laudrup admits he missed out on a move to Manchester United due a to a sliding doors moment which led him to Chelsea.
The Danish wing king has opened up on his transfer experience as a player and the role he has played in convincing others Ibrox is the right move for them since hanging up his boots. Laudrup endured an ill-fated stay in West London after leaving Rangers in 1998 and admits he had Sir Alex Ferguson on the blower looking to land him at Manchester United straight after he had given the Blues his word over a free transfer.
Speaking in his Daily Mail column, he said: "I remember after winning Nine-in-a-Row with Rangers, I was about to go into the final year of my contract. We were back home playing for Denmark and Peter (Schmeichel) asked me if I fancied playing for Manchester United. At that point, I was happy at Rangers. I didn't yet know whether I'd sign a new contract but the club wanted me to stay and I wanted to stay. Of course, things changed when it became clear Walter Smith was going to leave and it became the end of an era.
"Then, when I'd actually decided on Chelsea some months down the line, I had a call from Sir Alex. He said he saw me as a Manchester United player. It was a great honour, as I told him, but the very day before he phoned, I'd given my word to Chelsea. I couldn't go back on it. It would have been wrong.
"You can always use hindsight and say it would have been incredible to go from Ibrox to Old Trafford at one of the best times in Manchester United's history. Your mind visualises things and you can have a wee smile. But I have no regrets. I enjoyed my career and did what I felt was right. Sometimes, it was about a gut feeling."
And Laudrup has revealed his knack for providing assists for the Ibrox faithful didn't stop when he exited the club as his fondness for life in Govan has proved pivotal over the years. The 53-year-old has revealed he was pivotal in convincing another Dane to head to Ibrox.
He added: "You don't necessarily always see it in media coverage of transfers, but players rely a lot on the advice of peers and people they respect within the game. I remember I was called by Peter Lovenkrands before he joined Rangers from AB in 2000. From memory, he also had the option to go to Newcastle.
"I didn't know Peter personally, but I was happy to take his call when he asked me what he should do. Immediately, I said, 'Peter, pick Rangers. It's a wonderful club and a great place to go and develop. Also, doing well there will give you the chance to go down south or elsewhere’.
"It didn't work out too badly for him. I've seen the recent links between Rangers and Todd Cantwell and Tom Davies. I'm sure those players will be making calls just now, looking for advice and sounding out the situation. For any footballer, having the right people in your corner can make all the difference when it comes to a potentially lifechanging decision. I might be biased, but I would always give Glasgow the seal of approval. Those who end up in the city will have an experience they won't forget.
"I gave Walter Smith a call. There was still no one better for advice."
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