Sir Alex Ferguson reveals why he didn't sign David Silva

David Silva is a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain, and since his move to Manchester City in 2010, he's proven himself one of the best attacking midfielders on the planet.

Unfortunately for Manchester United fans, he's also among many players Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the club came close to signing during his reign.

The move for Silva didn't fall through, however - instead, the Scot believed the diminutive Spaniard couldn't do the job for the Red Devils defensively.

"We watched Silva a lot when he was at Valencia," Ferguson told Sirius XM, according to the Mirror. "And the other player they had, the same type, years before it, played in that No. 10 role.

"My problem with that was you have to be very, very good to play in that position, because there's no defensive duties for them.

"So if you're wanting to be be really successful, everyone has to do their turn, has to work, you know?"

Ferguson's views on a No. 10's role came from his later years playing for Falkirk and Ayr United.

"When I started to lose my pace a bit, up front, I started to drop in, into the hole, in a different way to the No. 10s you're talking about.

"I realised then the defenders found it difficult to cope with it, so all my teams had one striker and one playing off. Not in the hole, but playing off the front."

The physicality Silva's added to his game since coming to England will leave United fans further ruing Ferguson's decision.

The 29-year-old is currently nursing an ankle injury and could be sidelined for a few weeks, meaning he has a slim chance to make the trip to archrival United on Oct. 25.