Marc Overmars revealed how different his career could have been if not for a ligament injury which led to Manchester United withdrawing their interest and Arsenal signing the winger a year later.

The Dutchman made almost 150 club appearances for Arsenal and established himself as a legend before joining Barcelona for around £30m in 2000. But speaking with the Telegraph, Overmars admitted he was on course to join Manchester United a year before Arsenal signed him in 1997.

“That was a very close one. I had a (serious knee ligament) injury. I think (Sir Alex) Ferguson was really interested. Manchester United and Arsenal were the two interested at that time. But I broke my ligaments and then I was out for eight months,” he revealed.

“Afterwards, Arsenal kept the faith, which I am really grateful to Wenger for, because twenty years ago when you broke your ligaments, it was quite a serious injury.”

Overmars was an influential player under Louis van Gaal at an Ajax side who beat AC Milan to win the Champions League in 1995. If he hadn’t sustained a serious injury, it’s likely that the Dutchman would’ve cemented his legacy as a legend for one of Arsenal’s rivals, but he ended up at Highbury for £7million in June 1997.