Craig Bellamy claims he was close to joining Manchester United
Bellamy brought to an end an 18-year playing career last season when he was at Cardiff City.
The 35-year-old played for a handful of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle and Liverpool.
And he claims a knee problem prevented him joining United.
"Fergie met with my agent in 2002 and said: "Can you get him out of Newcastle?" Bellamy told the Daily Mail.
GETTY
Craig Bellamy held talks with Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured)
I did think that maybe I should just go and deal with it then
Craig Bellamy
"The honest truth is my knee. I had just had an operation. I knew that if I went to Man United I would have to hit the ground running and with my knee that would have been impossible.
"I did think that maybe I should just go and deal with it then.
"Just get there... but I would have got caught out at United and that would have been terrible.
"I have to live with myself and sometimes that hasn't been easy. But I had to be honest with myself so I was."
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