Manchester United's former head of security has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson rejected the chance to sign Thierry Henry ahead of Arsenal.

Ned Kelly also acted as a bodyguard for Fergie, David Beckham and Eric Cantona.

"In the tunnel after the game my phone goes, Eric's older brother Jean-Marie [Cantona] says, 'Ned, tell Alex [Ferguson] that Thierry Henry wants to come to the club'," Kelly told beIN Sports.

"Now this was before he [Henry] went to Arsenal, his first choice was Manchester United. So I go to the boss and say, 'boss, I've just had Jean-Marie Cantona on the phone, he had said Henry wants to come to the club'.

"He [Ferguson] says, 'no way, he's always f****** injured'. He went to Arsenal, the rest is history."