Batistuta one who got away for United

Sir Alex Ferguson was a confirmed admirer of the legendary marksman, who had plundered goals with regular abandon in the traditionally defensive-minded Serie A.

'Batigol' was one of those players who was regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford in the transfer gossip columns but a deal never materialised.

If it was ever going to happen, then maybe 1996 was the year. United missed out on landing Alan Shearer for a British record fee, with the Blackburn Rovers hitman deciding to head back to his roots with Newcastle United. As the terrace song pointed out, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned out to be an extraordinary alternative, at a fraction of the price, and achieved legendary status at M16.

Yet there was renewed talk around that summer about the Reds casting glances towards Batistuta. After all, he had enjoyed a couple of stellar seasons with Fiorentina, firing them to Coppa Italia success and cementing his reputation as one of Europe's leading marksmen.

Ferguson was at pains to point out he was happy with his strikers but the rumours of interest in the South American never really subsided.

Indeed, the player's agent, Settimio Aloisio, confirmed on the record that United and Real Madrid were keen on his client.

Dwight Yorke arrived at United in 1998 and was top scorer as we secured the Treble but, as we looked to turn over the page into a new millennium, things really started to ramp up again when the Reds faced Fiorentina in the UEFA Champions League.

Nothing alerts fans to the ability of footballers more than seeing them play their favourite team and Batistuta proved his worth in the first game, scoring the opener before his compatriot Abel Balbo added a second, in a 2-0 home win at the Artemio Franchi, in November 1999.

The return was not until mid-March but Old Trafford would learn all about the centre-forward's talents 16 minutes into that encounter.

The South American unleashed a thunderbolt of such ferocity rarely seen at the famous ground, outside of from the boots of Sir Bobby Charlton.

Rocketing past Mark Bosnich. it is often heralded as one of the best visiting goals at the Theatre of Dreams and it handed the Florence outfit the lead on the night. United, well versed in European football, soon levelled through Andy Cole, and a fabulous team went on to win 3-1, courtesy of further strikes from Roy Keane and Yorke.

But Batistuta had left his mark and the transfer talk increased again when it became clear his nine-year association with the club where he was idolised was coming to an end in the summer.

By now, he was 31, and Sir Alex had four brilliant strikers at his disposal in Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Solskjaer and Yorke. 

"If I leave Fiorentina, there's only one club I would like to join," Batistuta told the press. "Manchester United. I've had the chance to play in England but it wasn't right for me. But, if everything is right, I would like to play in the Premiership.

"I think the football is probably more professional in Italy but it does lack the excitement of Premiership football."

Such open flirting with the club was only going to endear Batigol further to our fans and there was more from him around the time of the Champions League contest.

"I want to play at United because they are the world's best club," he was quoted as saying in the English press. "United are a cool club and I am aware they have been interested in me. It would be a great temptation to play for them, given the opportunity."

However, was this unrequited love reciprocated? Possibly not at this point, in 2000, even if it is clear there was attraction from United in the past.

We will never know for sure but a move to England was, ultimately, discounted as he decided to join Roma, becoming the highest-paid player in Serie A.

There was a suggestion Batistuta was deemed costly, also considering his age, and Sir Alex instead looked to Ruud van Nistelrooy. Even if the Dutchman's arrival from PSV Eindhoven was delayed for a year, it was a particularly shrewd choice, as was often the case when it came to the Scot's judgement.

While United's patience paid off, Gabriel would end up winning the title in the Eternal City and switching across Italy again to Inter.

When reflecting, the striker claimed: "I received many offers, namely from Real Madrid, Manchester United and Milan. But I preferred the tranquility of playing for Fiorentina."

So the long-haired, aggressive centre-forward never did get to prove his qualities at Old Trafford, or anywhere else in England for that matter. But, as we approach Saturday's Snapdragon Cup clash with La Viola (live on MUTV), some supporters will be wistfully thinking again about how much damage he could have done leading the line for a Ferguson team.