Ballon d’Or winner: ‘I regret never playing for Manchester United’

Czech Republic international, Pavel Nedved, has recently revealed that he regrets never getting the opportunity to play for Manchester United during his illustrious career.

The 44-year-old, who starred for Dukla Prague, Sparta Prague, Lazio and Juventus during his playing career, is highly-regarded as one of the best midfielders to feature during his generation.

Nedved, who won the 2003 Ballon d’Or award ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini, told Czech Republic publication Idnes that he would have loved to join Sir Alex Ferguson at the Premier League giants at one point.

Photo: Offside / L’Equipe.

“A regret? That I never played for Manchester United,” he said.

“I’d have liked that. The transfer was never on the table though, there was only Chelsea [interested in me].

“I liked the generation of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, whom I admired.

“I was a little bit jealous of Karel Poborsky, who played in Manchester and experienced great matches. I know he still feels that love.”