MIKAEL SILVESTRE last night revealed how David Beckham and Roy Keane persuaded him not to quit Manchester United in the summer.
Silvestre was approached by Italian giants AC Milan and, after six months of failed negotiations over a new deal at Old Trafford, he was ready to listen to the offer.
But England skipper Becks and Keane urged him not to leave and this season Silvestre has played more times than any outfield player at the club.
The deal is proof of Beckham and Keane's growing influence at the club, even more astonishing when Silvestre confessed that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had absolutely no part in the talks.
The French defender, who recently put pen to paper on a £40,000-a-week, five-year contract, revealed: "We had five or six meetings over six months but we weren't on the same wavelength.
"We finally managed to reach an agreement — but it took a long time.
"United have a reputation for not giving anything away.
"They are very tough in negotiations and other business affairs. But then so am I. It didn't really have any affect on the football side of things, Sir Alex never even took part in the negotiations. He doesn't want to be influenced by the fact that a player might say no to the club. So it was left to other people.
"I guess when your side is playing every three days, it's easier to detach yourself from the negotiations."
But Silvestre was, for a while, tempted to move to back to Serie A where he had a year with Inter Milan.
He revealed: "I had an offer from AC Milan, but Roy and David persuaded me to stay on at the club.
"They also suffered to get their contracts extended when they were involved in talks and they told me to just hang on in there.
"So that's what I did. It seems strange now when I look back over those six months of haggling."
Silvestre admits he was seriously considering walking out on Fergie's side.
But now he is more settled than ever and is confident of catching Arsenal in the Premiership title race AND ending the Gunners' FA Cup bid when the two clubs clash in the fifth round on February 15.
United are still on for an incredible quadruple trophy haul and he insisted: "We'll hang in there behind Arsenal and wait for them to slip up.
"They may be riding high in the Premier League but they are not riding high over us.
"Yes, they have scored more goals than us but our defensive record is as good as theirs.
"And don't forget we still have to go and play them at Highbury in April. That could be the deciding match of the season.
"We've beaten them once already and we have that psychological advantage."
"I'm 25 and I think defenders reach their best when they are approaching the 30 mark, so I have still have plenty of time to improve.
"I know the manager trusts me. Since I joined in 1999 he has always given me a lot of games. I knew he considered me a good player and trusted me for the future.
"But even so, when you see those words in writing, it makes it public and it's very flattering.
"Between us, we know exactly where we are going."
I for one am glad he stayed.He seems to be getting better every game.
Our gain the Dippers loss.
Its also nice to see the players doing the PLC's job for them.
Silvestre was approached by Italian giants AC Milan and, after six months of failed negotiations over a new deal at Old Trafford, he was ready to listen to the offer.
But England skipper Becks and Keane urged him not to leave and this season Silvestre has played more times than any outfield player at the club.
The deal is proof of Beckham and Keane's growing influence at the club, even more astonishing when Silvestre confessed that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had absolutely no part in the talks.
The French defender, who recently put pen to paper on a £40,000-a-week, five-year contract, revealed: "We had five or six meetings over six months but we weren't on the same wavelength.
"We finally managed to reach an agreement — but it took a long time.
"United have a reputation for not giving anything away.
"They are very tough in negotiations and other business affairs. But then so am I. It didn't really have any affect on the football side of things, Sir Alex never even took part in the negotiations. He doesn't want to be influenced by the fact that a player might say no to the club. So it was left to other people.
"I guess when your side is playing every three days, it's easier to detach yourself from the negotiations."
But Silvestre was, for a while, tempted to move to back to Serie A where he had a year with Inter Milan.
He revealed: "I had an offer from AC Milan, but Roy and David persuaded me to stay on at the club.
"They also suffered to get their contracts extended when they were involved in talks and they told me to just hang on in there.
"So that's what I did. It seems strange now when I look back over those six months of haggling."
Silvestre admits he was seriously considering walking out on Fergie's side.
But now he is more settled than ever and is confident of catching Arsenal in the Premiership title race AND ending the Gunners' FA Cup bid when the two clubs clash in the fifth round on February 15.
United are still on for an incredible quadruple trophy haul and he insisted: "We'll hang in there behind Arsenal and wait for them to slip up.
"They may be riding high in the Premier League but they are not riding high over us.
"Yes, they have scored more goals than us but our defensive record is as good as theirs.
"And don't forget we still have to go and play them at Highbury in April. That could be the deciding match of the season.
"We've beaten them once already and we have that psychological advantage."
"I'm 25 and I think defenders reach their best when they are approaching the 30 mark, so I have still have plenty of time to improve.
"I know the manager trusts me. Since I joined in 1999 he has always given me a lot of games. I knew he considered me a good player and trusted me for the future.
"But even so, when you see those words in writing, it makes it public and it's very flattering.
"Between us, we know exactly where we are going."
I for one am glad he stayed.He seems to be getting better every game.
Our gain the Dippers loss.
Its also nice to see the players doing the PLC's job for them.
