Before he rose to stardom at Real Madrid, the young talent from Stourbridge made a name for himself at Birmingham City in the EFL Championship. When the time came for him to move on from St. Andrews Stadium, several top clubs vied for the then 17-year-old’s talents, including United. The Manchester club went all out, enlisting the help of former captains Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona, as well as legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, to persuade the midfielder to join them at Old Trafford. Robson believed they had convinced him during their meeting at Carrington, but ultimately, the move did not materialize.
Expressing his disappointment, Robson recounted the meeting with the player, his parents, and Sir Alex Ferguson in an interview with *The Telegraph*.