Bellamy might never have been as talented as he was in his own head, but for a while there he was one of the hottest properties in the Premier League, having had his career rescued by Newcastle after relegation with Coventry City (a point lost on him ever since). And it's not much of a surprise that he attracted some big interest at his peak in 2002, or that he sent people to see what he could get:
There was a link with Sir Alex as far back as 2002, when my representatives went to see him at Uniteds training ground, with a view to a move going ahead."
In typical Bellamy fashion, the player simply used Sir Alex's interest in him to get a better contract at Newcastle:
But Newcastle had just qualified for the Champions League, I loved playing for Sir Bobby Robson and had just been offered a new contract there. To be honest, I used an inquiry from United to hold out for a better deal.
Later, when he was at Man City, Sir Alex tried to sign him again before he joined Cardiff on loan in 2010, but City point-blank refused to allow him to move.
