The legendary manager first approached the Norwegian defender-cum-midfielder in the middle of the 1995/96 season about sealing a possible switch from Turkish club Besiktas.
But Johnsen told UTD Podcast that he felt he could not abandon the Istanbul side part way through the season and, respectfully, turned Ferguson down.
The Norway international believes that decision may have sealed the Reds manager's long-term respect for him, and convinced the Scottish boss to come back for his signature, later in 1996.
“My agent called and said: 'Is it okay for Sir Alex to call you?' Well, he was just Alex Ferguson at that time [not Sir Alex],”
remembers the 50-year-old.