Alessandro Del Piero made an immediate impression on Sir Alex Ferguson when Manchester United played Juventus in the 2002/03 group Champions League stages.
Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville even told the Old Trafford manager to sign the Italian forward 'at all costs' and the Red Devils continued to maintain their interest in the player.
With Juve relegated to the Serie B in 2006 after Calciopoli, a match-fixing scandal, Man United decided to directly contact Del Piero - but he refused to leave the Turin side.
Sir Alex said last year: "Del Piero is the only one who I would've gone mad for. After a match between United and Juventus, in which he destroyed half of our defence, Giggs and Neville came to me and asked me to buy him at all costs, because someone like him would've made us win everything for decades.
"And so I contact the Juve representatives, and the lad's agent. He refused even before listening to my proposal, telling me that Juve was the best place for him and, that while he respected Man United, he would never have been able to betray the black and white colours.
"A pity, because I never again saw someone like him. I courted him even just after Italy's World Cup win [in 2006]. In that time, Real Madrid were also after him and, given the issues around Juventus at the time, I imagined that between us at United and the 'galacticos', there would be a fair auction to get him.
"And so I called him directly: 'Alex, I'd like you at United', I said. 'You'll be the star of the squad, and together we'll win everything'. He laughed and replied: 'Sir, you know that nothing has changed from all those years ago. Juve are facing difficult times, and I have to help them. I can't be a coward'.
"In 2008, I saw him again and he greeted me with a hug. He apologised for refusing my offer. I put my hand on his shoulder and re-assured him, 'you wanted to save Juventus, and you did it'. When someone asks me what player I always wanted to train, but never got the chance, I always say: Alessandro Del Piero."
