The boyhood Leeds fan once claimed he would never join Man United and was in tears when his beloved Whites were relegated in 2004. Still, following the drop the club were forced to accept a £7m bid from their hated rivals and Smith wasn’t too popular with some supporters, although the player probably wouldn’t have chosen Old Trafford if it had been up to him. Leeds legend Peter Lorimer has since revealed that, of the interested clubs, Man United were the only ones prepared to pay the transfer fee in full, rather than spread out payments. “Leeds fans didn't want him to go there but as far as the club is concerned, Alan Smith going there probably saved us from going into administration or liquidation a lot earlier than we did,” he said.
The most controversial transfers in football including Figo to Real Madrid and Campbell at Arsenal
