Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson apparently rejected the chance to sign Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery back in 2006 after deeming him not good enough.

The former French international is one of the stars of his generation, and at various times in his career he was rated as one of the best players in the world. The 34-year-old has won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich since making the move in 2007, and won the Champions League with them in 2013.

However, back in 2006, then United manager Ferguson believed the Frenchman was not good enough after watching him for just 45 minutes.

According to The Sunday Times, Alastair Campbell and Sir Alex Ferguson went to watch Bolton Wanderers play Marseille in February 2006 in order to watch Ribery play. But the Scot apparently had his mind made up about the winger after just 45 minutes.

In the latest series of diaries published by Tony Blair’s former communications chief Alastair Campbell, he wrote: “Alex was watching Franck Ribery, the Marseille winger, but decided by half-time he was not good enough for United.”

The diaries also revealed more about Sir Alex Ferguson’s relationship with former skipper Roy Keane.

“He [Ferguson] felt Keane had what it took in so many ways but he had demons and they would come out.”

“He was actually someone who didn’t like people that much unless they met his own standards.”

“I said you used to say he was the most intelligent player you’d had and the one likeliest to be a top manager. He went ‘Wrong. There is something not right there.'”