Ryan Giggs' Man Utd career sealed with a dish

SIR ALEX FERGUSON will raise a glass to Ryan Giggs on the player’s 40th birthday this week – still chuckling how the price of a slap-up meal secured his legendary United career.

Ryan Giggs could well have become a City player had it not been for Sir Alex [SHAUN BOTTERILL/GETTY IMAGES]

Giggs looked destined to be City-bound after first being spotted by scout Eric Mullender as a nine-year-old.

The former schoolteacher took the youngster to trial sessions and matches at City’s Platt Lane training ground for three and a half years.

But just one week from his 14th birthday – when he could have been signed for the first time on schoolboy forms – United made the dramatic move to snatch him from under City’s noses.

Mullender recalls that Sir Alex and his assistant Brian Kidd took Ryan and his family to Manchester city centre for a night out at a posh restaurant.

“When I found out he was going to United I was gutted. That was it, a slap-up meal and he was gone”

Eric Mullender

And before City could digest what the hell was happening, United had signed the schoolboy sensation who has gone on to collect 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League medals – all befpore he hits the big 4-0 on Friday.
Mullender is in his 43rd year of scouting for the Blues.

But the memory of when he first clapped eyes on Giggs is still as fresh today as it was back then when the shy, quiet kid was still in primary school.
Mullender said: “He was playing at Under-10s level for Deans FC in Salford. He had that lovely left peg, was quick and really took my eye.

“At City we kept inviting Ryan down for practice matches. I used to take him everywhere and buy his football boots.
“In those days you couldn’t sign boys until they were 14. When I found out he was going to United I was gutted. That was it, a slap-up meal and he was gone.”