Lunchtime Pint That Led To Gazza Jilting Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson was convinced Paul Gascoigne was going to sign for Manchester United — until Tottenham gazumped him at the last minute. In our second series of extracts from top journalist John Richardson’s new book Our Gazza: The Untold Tales, former England winger Chris Waddle reveals his part in the British record transfer that rocked football.

- Mike Walters

Chris Waddle persuaded Paul Gascoigne to jilt Manchester United and sign for Tottenham instead over a Sunday lunchtime pint.

Gazza’s last-minute decision to join Spurs in 1988, when Sir Alex Ferguson believed a record £2.2million deal was in the bag, has always haunted Manchester United’s Treble winning manager.

Now former England winger Waddle, who linked up with Gascoigne for a season at White Hart Lane, has revealed his part in the move.

“I had one year with Gazza at Tottenham and that was long enough! But I was instrumental in him signing for Spurs,” revealed Waddle.

“It had looked like he was going to join Manchester United from Newcastle. I met him on Tyneside for a pint on a Sunday lunchtime. As usual, he had a gang with him.