United’s bid to sign Brady comes out in the wash

There’s no other way to spin this: Manchester United offered to buy Liam Brady’s mother a washing machine if her son would sign for the club.

The Irish football legend made the revelation at the announcement yesterday United will play one of Brady’s former clubs, Italian Serie A side Sampdoria, in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, August 2.

“I nearly went to Manchester United as a kid,” said Brady, recalling the chase for the then highly-rated 15-year-old Dubliner’s signature back in 1971. “The reason I didn’t go was because Arsenal got in before them. The scout here in Ireland was a guy called Billy Behan. Because I was a Manchester United fan he thought I was nailed on. Then I went to London and Arsenal liked me and they looked after me. Manchester United actually offered my mother a washing machine for me to go there. But my mind was made up and a washing machine wasn’t going to change it.”