time, but opted instead for De Gea on the advice of former Manchester United goalkeeper coach Eric Steele.
"Eric Steele had been scouting David de Gea for quite a while, but then Neuer came on the scene at Schalke. And I think Schalke would've been happy if we'd have gone and taken him.
“So my problem was Eric, because he was adamant that we must take de Gea. I said 'but Eric, the boy Neuer is the complete unit; he's mature, his physique is unbelievable', and he says 'yeah, but in three years' time, de Gea will be better'
“I said ‘that’s a statement’.
"Eric and I went out to watch him [de Gea] against Valencia away, and the things he'd been speaking about - his agility, his confidence, his speed - were evident.
"And Eric had been building a relationship with his parents, and was so adamant, that I had to trust him - and I'm glad I did, because he was right."
Ferguson added that he believes De Gea is now the best goalkeeper in the world “in many departments” and was no doubt delighted, like every other Manchester United fan, after he put pen-to-paper on a new four-year contract in September after his proposed transfer to Real Madrid collapsed at the last minute.
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