De Rossi: I Dreamed of Playing for Ferguson’s Man United

Daniele De Rossi, the iconic Roma legend, revealed that despite his lifelong loyalty to AS Roma, he always dreamed of playing for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership.

In an interview on the Overlap Podcast, De Rossi expressed his admiration for English football during his youth, particularly the dominance of Manchester United and the influence of Roy Keane. He said:

"I watched a lot of English football as a young player, and Manchester United stood out. I loved their intensity and players like Roy Keane. If I ever left Roma, the Premier League would have been my destination, and United was the dream club."

De Rossi fondly remembered a moment in 2006 when he briefly met Sir Alex Ferguson. He shared:

"Marcello Lippi called me into his office, and when I entered, Sir Alex Ferguson was sitting there. Lippi told me, 'You need to go to United.' I was nervous and didn’t know what to say. That moment, though short, remains special to me. Manchester United was such a great team at the time."

Ultimately, United signed Michael Carrick that year, ending the possibility of De Rossi’s move. De Rossi praised the decision, acknowledging, "Michael Carrick was an excellent player, and they made the right call."

Although offers from English clubs continued throughout his career, De Rossi chose to stay loyal to Roma, where he cemented his status as a club legend.