Former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards was eager to buy Fiorentina legend Gabriel Batistuta.
But Edwards revealed United could not afford to buy him.
He told NBC Sports: "Ferguson was keen to sign Batistuta.
"We looked at the situation, but at that time, the wages Batistuta wanted, and of course we're talking net.
"I can't remember the figures now, (but) they would have jeopardised our wage structure at the club at the time, and therefore turned it down."
The likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also in for him, as the race to land his signature starts to hot up.
Source: tribalfootball.com