Gary Neville Still Shocked by Ferguson’s Decision to Sell “Unbelievable” Paul Ince
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted that he is still surprised that Sir Alex Ferguson decided to sell an ‘unbelievable’ player when he was at the club.
Neville, who spent his entire professional career at Manchester United after coming through the club’s youth system as part of the legendary ‘Class of ’92’, represented Ferguson’s side between 1992 and 2011, accumulating an impressive 600 appearances across all competitions.
During his 19-year tenure at Old Trafford, Neville witnessed countless players join and depart the club, including football icons such as:
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Roy Keane
- Eric Cantona
- Andy Cole
- Ruud van Nistelrooy
However, one particular transfer sanctioned by Ferguson continues to baffle the former right-back to this day.
The Surprising Departure of Paul Ince to Serie A
After playing a crucial role in Manchester United’s Premier League title victories in 1993 and 1994, midfielder Paul Ince was unexpectedly sold to Inter Milan in the summer of 1995.
The transfer occurred during a significant growth period for Italian football, with Channel 4 having begun broadcasting live Serie A matches in 1992, increasing the league’s popularity in England.
At that time, it was uncommon for English players to move abroad, though several England internationals had made the transition to Italian football in the early 1990s:
| Player | Italian Club |
|---|---|
| Paul Gascoigne | Lazio |
| David Platt | Bari, Juventus, Sampdoria |
| Des Walker | Sampdoria |
| Paul Ince | Inter Milan |
Despite being a mainstay in United’s first team for six years, Ince had developed a strained relationship with Ferguson toward the end of his time at Old Trafford, prompting the Scottish manager to make a ruthless decision.
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville expressed his shock at the transfer: “There were a lot of shocks for transfers. Ince was a massive, unbelievable player for United. It was quite a big shock, where you thought: ‘That’s not…’ He sold Mark Hughes, Kanchelskis. And then you think about Jaap [Stam], Roy, or [Beckham] leaving. They were massive players.”
Ince spent two seasons in Italy before making a controversial return to English football with Manchester United’s fierce rivals Liverpool. His England career concluded in 2000, and he finished his playing days with spells at Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Swindon Town before transitioning into management with Macclesfield Town.
Ferguson’s decision to sell Ince, despite his importance to the team, demonstrated the manager’s willingness to make difficult decisions for what he believed was the long-term benefit of the club—a trait that defined his successful 26-year reign at Manchester United.
What do you think about Ferguson’s transfer decisions? Was selling Paul Ince one of his rare mistakes, or did it ultimately benefit the team? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and subscribe to our newsletter for more Manchester United nostalgia and analysis!