{"id":10307,"date":"2025-04-11T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/10307\/"},"modified":"2025-04-11T08:30:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:30:15","slug":"i-rejected-man-utd-for-celtic-and-broke-a-gentlemans-agreement-sir-alex-ferguson-blew-a-gasket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/10307\/","title":{"rendered":"I rejected Man Utd for Celtic and broke a gentleman’s agreement – Sir Alex Ferguson blew a gasket"},"content":{"rendered":"

The man who stopped Rangers from winning a Treble was also on Liverpool’s wanted list<\/p>\n

09:39, 10 Apr 2025Updated 09:45, 10 Apr 2025<\/p>\n

\"SirSir Alex Ferguson(Image: AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Joe Miller was one of the best young talents in Scotland after making his name at Aberdeen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So it was no surprise when Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a> attempted to prise him to Manchester United<\/a> in 1987.<\/p>\n

After all, Fergie struck a gentleman’s agreement with his former club, ensuring he would have the first option to buy the rising star.<\/p>\n

Or so he thought. Money talks and United were priced out of a deal. Miller – born and raised in Glasgow’s east end – was offered a dream move to his beloved Celtic<\/a> at the 11th hour and the rest is history.<\/p>\n

A huge fans’ favourite, Miller played a key role in the Hoops’ Double-winning Centenary season and famously slotted the Scottish Cup Final winner to deny Rangers the Treble in 1989.<\/p>\n

But his career could have turned out so differently had he reunited with ex-Dons boss Sir Alex at Old Trafford – or moved to arch-rivals Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Miller’s \u00a3650,000 switch to Parkhead unsurprisingly riled Sir Alex, who accused Pittodrie chiefs of breaking an unwritten agreement.<\/p>\n

Asked if the managerial great was miffed, Miller told the Let Me Be Frank Podcast<\/a>: “At that time, yeah. I think he had an agreement with Dick Donald, the old chairman of Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

\"JoeJoe Miller celebrates his Treble-busting goal(Image: Daily Record)<\/p>\n

“I think he was promised first refusal on me if I ever became available. I was looking to move at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t see myself moving to Celtic. Celtic came in at the very last minute, on the day that I signed, I never seen another Scottish club coming in for me.<\/p>\n

“There was interest from abroad, there was interest from Liverpool and Man United and they were making it known in the papers every week.<\/p>\n

“I was just sitting there, playing my football every week, and then after I signed, Sir Alex was saying ‘The shackles were off’ and he was coming in for the Aberdeen players.<\/p>\n

“He was coming in for Alex and Jim Leighton as a result of me moving. I think he had an agreement with Dick Donald that he would have first refusal on me and he never honoured that.”<\/p>\n

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