Sir Alex Ferguson fumed that he was "robbed" over Ben Foster's transfer fee after signing the goalkeeper following his first spell at Wrexham.
Foster, 40, has already earned cult-hero status in Wrexham during his second-stint in North Wales - making a last-minute penalty save against Notts County in a National League title showdown that was billed the biggest game in Non-league history.
Wrexham were 3-2 up when Foster superbly denied Cedwyn Scott from the spot to keep the club's desperate automatic promotion bid on track.
And Foster is now on course to claim his second piece of silverware at the club after being lured out of retirement by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
It was his brief loan spell from Stoke City at the Racecourse Ground and a victory in the Football League Trophy final that propelled Foster to stardom with a move to Manchester United.
Legendary United boss Ferguson had been watching his son Darren - but was particularly impressed by Foster and made a £1million summer move for the young shot-stopper in 2005.
And former Stoke City director of football John Rudge recalls how his tough negotiations with United left Ferguson exasperated when raw talent Foster arrived at Carrington.
“Alex Ferguson’s son Darren played for Wrexham at the time so he goes to watch a match, sees Ben play and likes the look of him as well," Rudge wrote in his new autobiography, as per Stoke on Trent Live.
“Fergie gives me a call and tells me to come up and see him so I go to their training ground. Alex was always very good to me. We’d built up a relationship from Port Vale although whenever we negotiated about anything I took the line that we had no money, which was true.
"He asked what we wanted for Ben and I said it would have to be £1m. He said, ‘What are you on about! He’s never even played for you!'
“But we struck a deal for £1m with a few bits and pieces on top as well. I’d send him a text over the years whenever Ben was doing particularly well and I’d get a reply, ‘You ***** robbed me over that!’”
Foster feels his penalty save against Notts County has 'vindicated' his move to come out of retirement, and the veteran is relishing his final four games at Wrexham.
Rudge, who has closely followed Foster's career, is thrilled that the goalkeeper has grasped a unique chance to perform in the spotlight once more.
He added: “Ben went on to have a great career. Perhaps he wasn’t quite mature enough at the time to handle the breakthrough at Manchester United but he has spent a long time in the Premier League and played for England.
“It was lovely to see him still out there making saves at the age of 40. He can enjoy the spotlight back at Wrexham, who are always on the TV and in the papers because of their owners."
