Sir Alex Ferguson was left stunned by Man Utd icon's shock text message four years after feud

Sir Alex Ferguson was once left stunned after a Manchester United icon texted him - nearly four years after they had a major bust-up.

Ferguson had his fair share of feuds with players during his near 27-year spell at Old Trafford between 1986 and 2013.

And whilst the row that ultimately led to United captain Roy Keane leaving the club in 2005, it would be later that season that one of the midfielder's team-mates would depart in acrimonious fashion.

That player was Ruud van Nistelrooy, who ended his five-year stint at Old Trafford to join Real Madrid despite scoring 21 Premier League goals in his final campaign.

Van Nistelrooy's fall-out with Ferguson began during the League Cup final in 2006, when the Dutchman was left on the bench for the entirety of the match.

He was then left out of the squad entirely for the final fixture of the Premier League season against Charlton Athletic, having already had a training ground bust-up with team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nearly four years later, in January 2010, Van Nistelrooy texted Ferguson in an attempt to clear the air.

The message read: "I don't know whether you remember me. But I need to call you."

The legendary manager theorised that his former striker might want to discuss a return to Old Trafford, but the reality was much different.

He actually called Ferguson to apologise for his behaviour at United - and explained his reasoning in 2011 (quotes via Daily Mail): "I had been thinking about it [calling him] for a while, and talking it through with my wife. She suggested I sent Ferguson a text message to see if he was willing to talk.

"So I sent him a message asking if I could call, and he replied to say, 'OK, call me at this date and time'.

"I rang him, and he answered and said: "OK, go ahead'. I said I wanted to apologise for what had happened.

"He said: 'OK, I appreciate that, when we meet again it will be OK'.

"Two or three times every year I would think to myself, what a shame it was that it ended like it did with Ferguson. I wanted to do something about it. I was really pleased with the phone call."

Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Football, Premier League

Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.