Rio Ferdinand has revealed he was phoned by Thiago Alcantara in 2013 in the hope that he could arrange a move to Manchester United for him.
The Spain midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford eight years ago, particularly after a man-of-the-match display against Italy in the final of the U21 Euros.
That speculation then became even more intense when someone - believed to be United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea - wrote 'See you in Manchester' on Thiago's match ball after he scored a hat-trick in that game in Jerusalem.