Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Paul Gascoigne is the footballer for whom he will always regret why he failed to buy him at Manchester United.

United were close to buying the attacking midfielder from Newcastle in 1988 and later Gascoigne wrote in his autobiography that he had promised Ferguson that Old Trafford would be his destination.

But Gascoigne joined Tottenham instead of United and spent five years in north London before moving to Lazio.

Ferguson believes the former England star would fare much better at United than at Spurs and was disappointed his side had failed to sign him.

Asked which player he regrets not buying, Ferguson said: “In reality, you have to say, there is only one player that always comes to mind and he is Gascoigne.”

“He was absolutely fantastic. I think if we had bought him, he would have had a great career, I really think so. I am not saying that he did not have a good career, but with us he would have had a better career”, he added.