I only joined Liverpool because Manchester United refused to sign me.

Paul Ince claims that he did not commit a ‘cardinal sin’ by coming to Liverpool after previously playing for Manchester United because he did not make the switch directly.

Given their fierce rivalry, it is unusual to see players play for both clubs over the course of history. Since 1964, there has been no direct transfer from Old Trafford to Anfield, only those who have moved indirectly to a former rival.

Ince was one of these players. Between 1989 and 1995, he appeared in 267 games for United, scoring 27 goals. He won two Premier League crowns, two FA Cups, a League Cup, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup during that time.

However, during his six-year stay in Manchester, the Ilford-born midfielder clashed with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, leading to his £7.5 million transfer to Inter Milan.

He would eventually return to England in 1997, joining a team he had considered a deadly foe. Ince, on the other hand, does not consider his move to Anfield as a betrayal of his old club.

“I’ve always felt – and I’ve said it many times – that, with no disrespect to either team, I’d never have gone to Liverpool straight from Manchester United or from Manchester United straight to Liverpool.” “That is a cardinal sin,” he explained to talkSPORT.

He even explained that before finalizing his move to Liverpool, United forfeited the right to re-sign him.

“I didn’t want to leave Manchester United when I went to Inter Milan.” Man United had first refusal on me when I returned from Inter Milan. I could have easily returned to Manchester United, but they refused to take me back.

“I don’t know if I would have gone back, but all I know is that I had two years at Inter, another three years on my contract, and obviously the family situation was difficult, so we came back.”

Peter Robinson arrived from Liverpool, we sat down for lunch, and we decided that was the path I wanted to take. I adore the Pacific Northwest. I’d spent six or seven years at United and knew Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, and David James, so it was simple to fit in.”

Ince joined the Reds at the age of 29 and went on to score 17 goals in 81 games. He recalled one of them: a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in front of the Kop in 1999, which he celebrated violently.

It was to be one of his final contributions, however, as he left for Middlesbrough after a disagreement with Gerard Houllier.

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