Paul Gascoigne has insisted that his battles with drink and drugs could not have been avoided by joining Manchester United - because many of the club's biggest stars experienced personal problems at Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old, who was diagnosed as an alcoholic when he was 33 and still playing in the Premier League, is continuing to fight his demons following brushes with the law and struggles with his mental health.
However, he remains adamant that his life would have turned out the same even if he had taken the opportunity to play under Sir Alex Ferguson at United.