After doing well at Feyenoord, Henrik Larsson opted to make the move to Celtic for a taste of Scottish football and the Swedish international proceeded to break records there. During an incredible seven year-spell, Larsson went on to net 211 goals in just 277 appearances for the Bhoys. That spell also included a catalogue of league titles, Scottish League Cups, Scottish Cups and a few others.
Not only that, Larsson was linked with moves to several European giants although, in the end, Barcelona managed to snag him even though Manchester United were interested. The forward spent only two years with the La Liga giants but did win the treble and eventually made the move to Old Trafford a few years later.
Henrik Larsson rejected Manchester United to stay at Celtic
However, it was only a three month loan-spell with the Red Devils but Larsson played an integral role as the club won the 2006/07 league title. He made only 13 appearances along the way but his part off the field and during his short time at the club is still talked about by fans.
But Larsson admitted that he could have agreed to a Manchester United tarnsfer in the 90s although he rejected them then. The Swede also confessed that he wanted to stay at Celtic and didn’t feel the need to leave.
“I had an opportunity to go to Manchester United in the 1990s from Celtic. I would have earned more, maybe £10,000 or £15,000 a week more. But I had just come off three and a half years at Feyenoord where it had been up and down,” Larsson told The Guardian
“I had just found my feet [at Celtic] and I wanted to go on with that. We’d played in the Uefa Cup, I played for Sweden, I didn’t feel I needed to go somewhere else. I didn’t become a superstar at Barcelona, I became a superstar at Celtic.”
An honour to represent Manchester United: Larsson
The Swede’s time at Old Trafford came when he had rejoined former side Helsingborgs after leaving Barcelona and with the Swedish league season on break, the chance to join United arrived. However, many wondered what kind of impact Larsson would have although he proved his critics wrong. But the Swede now admits that it wouldn’t have been possible if not for the reception he was given by the team and Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I was only there for ten weeks but Sir Alex Ferguson made me feel so welcome. I was living at the Lowry [hotel]. Louis Saha and Patrice Evra would take me to lunch, Wayne Rooney too. I thought: ‘Oh, they really care.’ So you want to do good by them. It was an honour to represent Manchester United,” he added.