Fergie rues Ron that got away
Brilliant Brazilian Ronaldinho is due to appear at Old Trafford on Tuesday - almost four years after he should have arrived on a permanent basis.
The exact reasons for the sudden failure to conclude the deal have never been fully explained, although it is thought Sir Alex Ferguson holds former United, and current Chelsea, chief executive Peter Kenyon responsible.
"I do think what might have been when I look at Ronaldinho," said the Scot. "We thought the agreement with him was done until some events changed the course of history."
He added: "But the good thing about Manchester United is that the club does not stop just because one player says 'no', or we fail to get him.
"We thought we had Paul Gascoigne but he changed his mind and went to Tottenham, so we signed Paul Ince and he was fantastic for us.
"Likewise, we tried to get David Hurst and Alan Shearer and ended up with Eric Cantona. What can I say about that?
"Something always turns up. Football is amazing like that. We did not get Ronaldinho but out of that came Cristiano Ronaldo."
