25 Years On: How Ferguson Lured Laurent Blanc from Inter to Old Trafford

At 35 years old and after extending his contract at Inter Milan, Laurent Blanc nonetheless left the Nerazzurri during the summer 2001 transfer window to join Manchester United, in what was one of the most unexpected late-window deals of the era.

The Cévenol defender had joined Inter in 1999, two years after retiring from the France national team following the World Cup-Euro double. But the Lombard club was going through a difficult period: two Serie A seasons finished in 4th and 5th place, the sacking of Marcello Lippi mid-season, and serious recurring injuries to Ronaldo. Summer 2001 marked a turning point with the arrivals of Francesco Toldo, Marco Materazzi and Sérgio Conceiçao. Materazzi immediately established himself in central defence alongside Ivan Cordoba, relegating Blanc to the bench from the opening matches.

It was in this context that Alex Ferguson entered the scene. After selling Jaap Stam to Lazio, the Scottish manager — who had already attempted to sign Blanc several times in the past — contacted Inter’s executives to sound out the Frenchman’s availability. Inter agreed to release him on the same salary terms, and Blanc discovered Old Trafford.

In a dressing room populated by Gary and Phil Neville, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former France libero also reunited with his friend Fabien Barthez in the Manchester goal. His first season allowed him to adapt to a style of football radically different from what he had experienced in France, Spain or Italy.

In his second and final season, Blanc fell behind Rio Ferdinand and Mikaël Silvestre in the defensive hierarchy, but featured in the squad that won the Premier League — the last trophy of a career that had already won everything. The Old Trafford crowd gave him a heartfelt tribute during the title celebrations.