New Town recruit Alex Henshall had the world at his feet when he was just 15 with Arsenal, Liverpool and the two Manchester giants all competing for his signature.

It seemed Manchester United had won the race and the youngster found himself at Old Trafford, accompanied by his parents and agent, for a meeting attended by Sir Alex Ferguson at which he was ready to sign the relevant paperwork.

But then something strange happened, which to this day he finds impossible to explain, and instead he dramatically changed his mind about signing for the Red Devils.

Henshall, 20, recalled: “I was getting quite involved with the first team at Swindon when I was 15 and still at school. I made the bench a few times but I never actually got on. I had all these clubs coming after me and it was a lot to take in at the time.

“I decided on United and I was actually at the club ready to sign for them. I had the pen in my hand but I put it down on the table and just walked without saying a word. It was really weird, like there was a voice in my head telling me not to do it.

“My dad followed me out and said ‘What are you doing?’ All I could say was that something had come over me telling me not to sign for United. Back then some people were calling me the new Ryan Giggs and I didn’t want any of that.

“My mum and my agent were in the office for a good 20 minutes to half an hour. They were expecting me to return but I never did. My dad went back and all he could say was that I had changed my mind, then we all left.

“Derek Langley [director of youth recruitment at United] was there and he wasn’t very happy. I’ve never seen Sir Alex since then and I don’t think I’d want to after that. If I bumped into him again I wouldn’t know what to say. I’m not sure he would even recognise me but I think he’ll remember the name.”

Henshall also rejected offers from Arsenal and Liverpool before further upsetting United by joining their arch-rivals City, where he spent four years before moving to Town on a free transfer in the summer.

He added: “I was only a little kid back then and I didn’t know what to say. It was quite tough. I’ll always remember that day and I’m still not sure what came over me. It was like a flash from the future that made me get up and walk out.”

Photo: Action Images

bedsitfc added 06:20 - Aug 16 Hanshaĺl is a blue he hates everyone in red
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trackerlad added 07:00 - Aug 16 This is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read. Trying to get himself in the starting lineup. Good effort lad
-13

Leithblue added 07:28 - Aug 16 Spooky! The voice in his head telling him his Destiny was to be an Ipswich legend!!
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Blue_Again added 07:57 - Aug 16 They should have made an episode of strange but true out if this amazing story...... Yeah maybe not.
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jas0999 added 08:55 - Aug 16 What a shame he hasn't pushed on. Let's hope he does so at Ipswich, but he still has a way to go. Can't see him being a regular starter for some time yet. After all we have Jay Tabb.
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itfcst added 09:44 - Aug 16 Ironically he'd have probably had a better chance at united than city
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MattinLondon added 09:52 - Aug 16 Probably all that is worse about the way football does business. 1/ A fifteen year old has an agent. 2/ A fifteen year old getting onto the bench of first football (nothing wrong with this) but swapping it all to be swallowed up by an Academy. If he had stayed at Swindon, playing first team football, and say leaving at eighteen, maybe h would be a better player
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BondiBlue added 10:35 - Aug 16 trackerlad has a point - he needs to forget all that stuff about the champions league clubs. maybe a loan spell at woking might do him some good
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blue_moon09 added 11:01 - Aug 16 Non story, who cares zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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pazelle added 11:26 - Aug 16 That's the voice one should always listen to!
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Garv added 20:51 - Aug 17 Good story.
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