Aaron Ramsey
Aaron Ramsey Reuters

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson still has regrets over the failure to sign Aaron Ramsey during his time at Old Trafford.

The Welsh international is a graduate of the Cardiff City academy and following his mercurial rise to the first-team was one of the hottest properties in English football.

Ramsey was courted by Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton during the summer of 2008, but the Welshman finally chose the Gunners ahead of the other clubs following a meeting with Arsene Wenger.

The 23-year-old midfielder has already faced various highs and lows in the last six years including a career threatening injury which kept him out for over a year. Upon return he struggled to regain the form that made him one of the most coveted midfielders in England.

However, the former Cardiff midfielder proved all his critics wrong during the 2013/14 campaign when he was the north London club's star player. He was also voted the club's player of the year.

Ferguson, who was at a Fifa event spoke to Welsh manager Chris Coleman and his assistant Osian Roberts and was particularly interested in Ramsey and his progress as a footballer.

The Wales assistant manager believes that the former United boss was interested in the Arsenal midfielder as he sees the player as the 'one that got away'.

"He had a strong interest in how Aaron is doing because he was very close to signing him," Roberts said, as quoted in the Mirror.

"He probably looks at it now as one that he lost out on and got away from him. It was really nice that he spoke about Aaron," the Wales assistant boss added.