According to Goal.com, Burkina Faso talisman Alain Traore has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson was keen on signing the 22-year-old five years ago following a trial with the Red Devils.
Why didn’t a deal go through?
Traore cited his inability to obtain a work visa as the reason he did not ink a deal Manchester United.
“It went well and Sir Alex said he wanted to keep me, but it was impossible to get a work permit.
He suggested that I go to a Belgian club initially, but I also had the chance to play for Auxerre,” Traore told the Ligue 1 official website.
“I’ll never forget the discussion I had with Ferguson in his office,” he added.
“He had a picture of David Beckham with some other stars celebrating with a trophy. He said if I worked hard enough, I could have the same success as Beckham.
“I also remember he was impressed with my left foot. He said: ‘Alain, it’s better to have one great foot that two average feet; just look at Ryan Giggs’. It was a great moment.”
Traore’s comments come weeks after the Auxerre striker signed a one-year extension with the club through 2015.
“Alain Traore has chosen to extend his contract with Auxerre after his excellent start to the season,” an official statement from the club said.
The Burkina Faso international has netted six goals in Ligue 1 this season, making him the fourth leading goal-scorer in France’s top-flight.
His six goals in Ligue 1 in 2011-12 have already surpassed his total of five last season. I think it’s safe to say that Traore is finally coming-of-age.
Traore joined AJ Auxerre in 2005 after being discovered at the Planete Champion football school in Burkina Faso and worked his way to the top through the club’s youth system.
Traore’s Next Move
Surely Traore will join a bigger club in the next few years. The only question is, where will he end up?
CSKA Moscow seem to be the best fit at the moment.
With Seydou Doumbia keen on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, Traore could be the ideal successor to the Ivorian in Russia.
“I am very interested in playing in the English league. Harry Redknapp is a coach African players love, so who knows?,” Doumbia told Sky Sports News.
“It is only paper talk at the moment. I want to make a name for myself in the Russian league and in the Champions League as well, the rest will come once I am playing very well.
“My dream is to play in the Premier League, everyone knows that.”
However, will Spurs cough up £30 million for the Ivorian talisman? Surely not.
Despite Doumbia seeking a move to North London, the demanded transfer fee seems a bit too high for Spurs, leaving Traore as a more reasonable target for Harry Redknapp.
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