-Credit:Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images.
From Denis Law to Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United have rarely been short of a household name at the tip of their attack over the years.
As one of world football’s most explosive powerhouses, United have always had an expectation on their shoulders to have an elite-level striker on hand. Whether it be via signing a domestic rival’s leading marksman or an overseas club’s top scorer, the Reds have always wanted to have a guarantee of goals at the top end of the pitch.
That was a familiar theme throughout Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year reign as United manager. He often made it his mission to add a goal-getter to his squad, ranging from Andy Cole to Robin van Persie.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim confirms Manchester United surprising selection vs Arsenal
READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson’s opinion is very clear amid Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo updates
United spent a lot on strikers during Ferguson’s time in charge. However, there was once an occasion where the Scot relied on a loan deal to top up his attack.
It was on December 1, 2006, when United announced they had reached an agreement with Helsingborgs IF to sign Swedish icon Henrik Larsson. United were short on attacking options at the time, and having analysed various avenues, the club was adamant that signing the then-35-year-old was the best option available to them.
Ferguson said: “I have always admired Larsson. I made a move for him when he was at Celtic but then they managed to persuade him to stay. He is a great player. It is a terrific bit of business for us. We are bringing someone in who can change a game.
“We won’t be going for any other strikers. We have exhausted all avenues and this, without doubt, is the best option.”
Indeed, Ferguson had always been a fan of the 2001 European Golden Boot winner. During the Swede’s time at Scottish giants Celtic, which saw him plunder 242 goals between 1997 and 2004, Ferguson attempted to lure Larsson south of the border and to Old Trafford, but his efforts were quickly blocked by a stubborn Celtic hierarchy.
Writing in his autobiography years later, Ferguson said: “I was ready to make the bid when he was at Celtic but Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s majority shareholder, rang me and said, ‘You’ve let me down, Alex, you’ve got tons of players, we need him.”
Henrik Larsson was a prolific goalscorer during his time at Celtic. -Credit:Alex Livesey/Getty Images.
After 315 appearances for the Glasgow giants, Larsson left at the end of the 2003/04 season, exiting on a free transfer. He was snapped up by Barcelona, signing a one-year deal at the Camp Nou with the option of a second.
Larsson spent two seasons in Spain, winning four trophies, including two La Liga titles and the Champions League. He scored a respectable tally of 19 goals in 59 matches.
After leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2005/06 season, Larsson’s focus immediately switched to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He started each of Sweden’s four matches at the tournament and scored in their 2-2 draw with England in their final group match, only for them to be sent packing by the hosts at the round-of-16 stage four days later.
Larsson, who scored 37 goals for his country, soon had his club future sorted, returning to Helsingborgs, who he had previously left in 1993 to move to Feyenoord. However, as already documented, it was not long before he was on the move again, returning to Britain to join United.
Announcing they reached an agreement to sign Larsson, United confirmed the deal would come into effect on January 1, 2007, and that the Swede won join the club on a three-month loan deal. Nowadays, the vast majority of loan deals are for half a season or a full season.
He made his United bow six days later, starting an FA Cup third round tie against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Partnering Wayne Rooney up front, he marked the occasion by opening the scoring in a 2-1 win for Ferguson’s men.
Larsson marked his Manchester United debut by scoring in the FA Cup at Old Trafford. -Credit:Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images.
Recalling the occasion 15 years later, Larsson said: “It’s a funny old game. I always had a feeling that I would get a goal in that game, and to be honest I should have scored another two in the first half really.
“It was just the first game. I wanted to show myself so much that I maybe went in a little bit too much into the game. I should have had a little bit more calmness.”
Larsson made a total of 13 appearances during his stay at Old Trafford, scoring three goals in total. As well as scoring in the FA Cup against Villa, he found the net in a 4-0 win over Watford in the Premier League and a 1-0 win over Lille in the second leg of a Champions League last-16 tie, sealing a 2-0 aggregate triumph.
Despite only spending a matter of weeks at Old Trafford, Larsson gained cult hero status, meaning Manchester quickly felt like a home away from home.
Speaking in 2020, he said: “Getting the chance to work with Sir Alex and the players there at the time was just a great experience. Playing back home in Sweden, yes it’s professional, but it’s not the atmosphere, the aura about it like at United. I felt at home there.”
The night Larsson scored against Lille was his last appearance at Old Trafford in a United shirt. He made his final appearance of his loan spell against Middlesbrough in an FA Cup tie at the Riverside a few days later.
Larsson said farewell to Manchester United at the Riverside. -Credit:Matthew Lewis/Getty Images.
He returned to Helsingborgs in time for the start of the new domestic Swedish season. However, he later revealed he wished he had stayed at United for longer.
“That’s the only regret I have in my career,” Larsson admitted, speaking back in 2016. “I should have stayed, as it would have meant I got a Premier League winner’s medal, and I would have stayed for one more season. But I still had a contract with Helsingborgs and I feel that when you sign a contract, you have to see it out.”
It was a feeling shared by Ferguson.
“He’s been fantastic for us, his professionalism, his attitude, everything he’s done has been excellent,” Ferguson said. “We would love him to stay but, obviously, he has made his promise to his family and Helsingborg and I think we should respect that but I would have done anything to keep him.”
Larsson had two young children at the time and he wanted them to have somewhere they could truly call home.
“The problem with that was that I promised Helsingborg to come home and I wanted the kids to have somewhere they could call home,” said the former striker. “Helsingborg put in a lot of money to bring me home. I felt it was my duty to fulfil the commitment I had made on paper. I promised them I would come back home.”
Despite making just 13 appearances in United colours, Larsson made a very positive impact in what was, in truth, a fleeting visit to Old Trafford. Ferguson needed a striker at the time and he could not have sourced a more experienced figure.
18 years on, United are once again looking at the prospect of having to sign a striker on loan in the mid-season window. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to land somebody with Larsson’s pedigree. He really was something special.