During the Arsene Wenger years at Highbury, Arsenal built quite the rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, a side they often dueled with for the Premier League crown.
Whether it was Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney, Man United’s players seemed to have an extra spring in their step when they headed to north London, and the same could be said for Wenger’s team heading up north.
Patrick Vieira is a name who immediately springs to mind when reminiscing Arsenal’s duels at Old Trafford, a midfielder built for a fierce rivalry.
That being said, Sol Campbell would no doubt also fall into that category – a dominant centre-back who always performed for Wenger on the biggest stages.
However, things might have actually turned out differently had former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Alan Sugar not blocked one move Campbell was keen to pursue before Arsenal even came knocking.
Sol Campbell admits that he might have signed for Manchester United
Speaking on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast, Campbell revealed that he was interested in joining United at 21-years-old when Ferguson’s side were showing interest in the Spurs defender.
Fortunately for Arsenal, who then made their own move five or so years later, that move never came to fruition.
Probing the situation on the podcast, Neville asked: “Could you have signed for United? United wanted you at one point – look at that smirk there.”
Campbell replied: “You called me.”
Neville: “I called Gerrard, I called Son, they all said no.”
Campbell: “I remember I was having an afternoon nap and the phone call came through – fancy United?
“I must have been about 21 then, and obviously it didn’t go any further, because I think it did go further and he blocked it really.”
Neville: “Who blocked it?”
Campbell: “[Alan] Sugar, he must of, yeah – didn’t go any further.”
Then asked later in the chat if he might have changed any decisions in his career, Campbell said: “Maybe you know, leaving Tottenham at 21 when United came in, if he didn’t block it, it would have been a different story maybe – who knows.”
Sol Campbell won’t have any regrets about ending up at Arsenal
Rio Ferdinand called Campbell underrated recently, a centre-back he might have actually been playing alongside at club level had things gone differently.
In addition, Jamie Carragher said Liverpool almost signed Campbell a while ago, a player who was clearly in hot demand throughout his career.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Tottenham | 314 | 15 | 10 |
| Arsenal* | 211 | 12 | 6 |
| Portsmouth | 111 | 2 | 3 |
| Notts County | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle United | 8 | 0 | 0 |
But although Campbell might still ponder the possibility of leaving Tottenham earlier, he surely won’t regret the fact that he ended up at Arsenal, where he enjoyed so much success.
Campbell won two league titles with the Gunners, including their Invincibles campaign in 2003/04.
And in addition to those Premier League medals, the England defender also won three FA Cups with Arsenal – one the best defenders in the club’s history.
