Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has revealed that he personally tried to convince Elliot Anderson to make the move to Old Trafford. However, the chat didn't go as he had hoped, as the England midfielder firmly requested that he be left alone.
This amusing anecdote was shared by the former midfielder during the podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, taking place on a golf course just days before Anderson was set to depart for the World Cup.
I really laid it on him, recalled Giggs.
At first, he didn’t know how to react, but then he relaxed a bit. We were walking side by side for the first four or five holes. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and said, ‘Can you just leave me alone? Let me play golf in peace, please. You’ve got problems.'
Whether this encounter had any bearing on Anderson's decision is uncertain, but it soon became apparent that the midfielder was aiming for a transfer to United’s main rivals.
In August, Manchester City officially announced the signing of the midfielder. Later, childhood photos of Anderson in City colours emerged, underscoring that Manchester United never really had a shot in the race for his signature.
