Owen Farrell almost joined Man Utd aged 13 after trial left academy execs thinking he could be future goalkeeper
OWEN FARRELL was tipped as a future Manchester United goalkeeper at the age of 13.
England's Rugby World Cup hero had a spell training with the Red Devils in 2005 and the club wanted to keep him on.
First-team goalkeeping coach Richard Harris told the : "Owen was terrific.
"You could just tell from within a few minutes of meeting him that he carried himself really well.
"You can always tell when you meet a top-class sportsman, they have that air about them and he did."
Harris made his feelings known to the top brass at Old Trafford, including Sir Alex Ferguson.
Farrell has clearly shown a world class aptitude for throwing, catching and kicking as England's fly half or inside centre — all skills he would need between the sticks.
He would have found himself in a similar age group to Danny Welbeck and Danny Drinkwater at Carrington.
Manchester United were so interested that Owen's father Andy was even offered a meeting with Fergie.
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But the Saracens star later described it as "a bit of a trial" and stuck to rugby union.
Farrell attended St John Fisher Catholic School in Wigan while his dad Andy starred for Wigan in Super League.
A year later Farrell Snr quit rugby league and switched to the 15-man game down at Saracens, with his son joining in 2008.
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Fast forward another 14 years and the fly half is starring in the Red Rose of English rugby union rather than the Red Rose of Lancashire at Old Trafford.
Who knows if Farrell had been a footballer where David De Gea's career would be at the Theatre of Dreams?
Or, given Manchester United's current plight, whether he would have had the chance of ever winning a top trophy — as he does on Saturday.
Farrell has been getting tips off 2003 Rugby World Cup final hero Jonny Wilkinson in drop goals as he prepares for England's massive match against South Africa in Yokohama.
