Paul Gascoigne admits he snubbed Manchester United for Tottenham because of financial perks - like a brand new car for his dad and a sunbed for his sister.
Back in 1988, future England legend Gascoigne was on the verge of signing for the Red Devils following his successful stint at boyhood club Newcastle. However, the mercurial midfielder made an abrupt reversal at the last moment.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, Gazza recalled how he declined Sir Alex Ferguson's offer - leaving the trio in fits of laughter.
"Sir Alex Ferguson called us and said 'I want to sign you' and I went 'OK, I'll sign'," he began. "So I went on holiday and he said, 'When you come back from holiday will you be at Old Trafford' and I said, 'Yeah'.
"I told my dad 'I'm going to Old Trafford' and he said, 'Brilliant'. Then two days later the phone went and it was Irving Scholar (former Tottenham chairman)."
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He then revealed a jaw-dropping tale about how a hefty bonus for his father swayed him towards Tottenham instead of United. Gazza continued: "I said, 'Dad, it's Tottenham', and he said, 'Tell them to f*** off, you're singing for Man United'.
"So I said 'f*** off, I'm signing for Man United', so Irving says, 'Tell your dad I'll give him £120,000', so I said, 'Dad, they're going to give you £120,000 if I sign for Tottenham' and he went, 'What are you waiting for then son?'"
Gascoigne also detailed how not just money, but also lavish gifts for his family clinched the deal. He added: "I went, 'Oh yeah, I think I'm about to sign for Tottenham'.
Gazza recalled his hilarious reasons for joining Tottenham instead of United (YouTube/The Rest Is Football)"He hadn't moved off the chair and he said, 'I want a BMW soft top with a private reg', so I rang Irving back and said, 'Can me dad have that?' and he said, 'Oh yeah, consider it done'.
"So I passed Old Trafford on the way [to Spurs] and I was worried but then as I got close I rang my sister and she said, 'Paul, if my mum is getting a house and dad's getting a car, then I want a sunbed', so the deal was done on the sunbed."
Gascoigne, who went on to become a Spurs hero as they won the FA Cup in 1991 and he played some of his best football at the club, infuriated Fergie with his U-turn.
He claims he didn't speak to him for years afterwards as a result. However, the pair eventually made amends, with Ferguson admitting that missing out on Gascoigne was one of his biggest regrets.
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