Gary Neville is still shocked Sir Alex Ferguson sold ‘unbelievable’ Man Utd player during his time at the club

Gary Neville Names Shock Manchester United Departure that Sir Alex Ferguson Allowed to Happen

Former Manchester United midfielder Gary Neville has revealed the transfer shock that left him stunned, during an episode of his podcast "The Overlap". The legendary player opened up about the departures that left him questioning Sir Alex Ferguson’s decisions, but there was one exit that particularly surprised him – Paul Ince.

Neville spent his entire career at United, winning eight Premier League titles and playing 602 games. During his time at Old Trafford, he saw several big-name stars leave the club, including Ince in 1995. The midfielder, who was a key player for the Red Devils, left for Inter Milan in a £7.5 million switch. Neville, who had described Ince as a "massive, unbelievable player" for United, said:

"Ince was a massive, unbelievable player for United. It was quite a big shock where you thought, ‘That’s not…’" He also listed other significant departures under Ferguson, including Mark Hughes, Andriy Kanchelskis, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, and David Beckham, calling them "massive players".

The exits allowed younger players like Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes to break into the first team. Neville explained:

"When I went to Highbury and you used to walk in that old entrance with the marble hall, I used to think it’s a club of proper tradition… I used to love the blazers that you used to wear and there is a resemblance in alignment for what United were at that time with the blazers and tradition."

The discussion took a turn when Jamie Carragher asked Neville if he would have signed for any other club if forced to leave United. Without hesitation, Neville chose Arsenal, expressing admiration for the Gunners:

"Arsenal were the club that I generally had massive respect for… Arsenal were the club that I admired. I used to think, ‘They’re a club that I’d love to play for.’ They were a club with great tradition and history."

Neville’s affection for Arsenal stems from their unique tradition, as he pointed out:

"The blazers and tradition – there’s a resemblance between Arsenal and United in terms of their values and history. You’d think that Arsenal are one of the most traditional clubs in English football."

Catch up on the full podcast episode on The Overlap to hear more insights from Gary Neville’s incredible football career. Don’t forget to follow us on all social media platforms for more updates and exclusive content.