‘I stole a pizza supply bike and turned down Alex Ferguson at 16 – however nonetheless performed with Beckham’
Jeremy Menez starred alongside legends like Francesco Totti, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but his career could have been very different if he had accepted Sir Alex’s offer
He is a PSG legend
A former France international who won two league titles with PSG has claimed he nearly signed for Man Utd – just months after stealing a pizza delivery driver’s bike. Jeremy Menez played for many of Europe’s top clubs, including Monaco, Roma, PSG, AC Milan and Bordeaux before they were forceable relegated to France’s fourth division.
But the 39-year-old, who made 24 appearances for France, has claimed he could have joined Man Utd during the club’s prime under Sir Alex Ferguson . . . but chose to turn them down.
In a new interview with Gazetta Della Sport, the winger who finished his playing career just two years ago after a stint in Italy with Bari, said: “After the Under-17 European Championship I won with France, Ferguson came to Paris to talk to my father.
Either way, he still played with David Beckham
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“But I didn’t feel like going abroad; it was too soon. So, in 2004, I signed for Sochaux.”
Although he probably wouldn’t have got into the first team that year, it was a transfer window where Man Utd refreshed their side and did sign some notable youngsters – Wayne Rooney, Giuseppe Rossi and Gerard Pique to name just three.
It was also the year they sold Nicky Butt, Diego Forlan, and the iconic Eric Djemba-Djemba. Despite his obvious on-pitch talent, Menez had a rather mercurial upbringing, and admitted to GDS about a crime he committed just a few months before the meeting with Fergie.
He said: “My personality limited me, I admit. I could have done so much more. I played without thinking, instinctively. I wanted to have fun with the ball, and that, perhaps, led me to struggle with anger management.
Menez is a respected pundit in France these days
“The environment I grew up in certainly didn’t help. I lived in the suburbs of Paris with my mum. I had a group of friends where you had to stand out, stand out in some way.
“Some of them ended up in prison. We got into a lot of trouble. Once we ordered a pizza and I stole the delivery guy’s scooter.”
Regardless of his scooter antics, Menez had a decent career, and even had a stint in Mexico where he won three trophies with Club America, scoring five goals in 18 appearances.
He is now a pundit in France where he covers Italy’s top league, as well as being an ambassador for PSG.
