Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson explains how he knew Michael Carrick was certain to be a 'big success' before he signed him

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Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed he knew Michael Carrick was going to be a massive success at the club before he had even agreed a deal to sign him.

Before entering negotiations with Tottenham in the summer of 2006, Ferguson and his coaching team underwent a background check on Carrick to make sure he would fit in at Old Trafford. 

After discovering Carrick had left his Newcastle home to join West Ham as a 16-year-old, Ferguson was sure he had found someone with a winning mentality and moved to sign him in a £16million deal soon after.

Sir Alex Ferguson paid £16million to sign Michael Carrick from Tottenham in July 2006

'One of the things that stuck out to me when we were profiling him and preparing to make a bid was that as a young boy, 16 years of age, he left home to play for West Ham,' Ferguson said, as quoted by Manchester United's official website.

'That tells you that the boy had the confidence that he was going to make it. A 16-year-old kid from Newcastle going to east London, that's a trek, and it impressed me.

'From the minute we bought Michael in 2006, his character has always been outstanding. He's a football man and that character, coupled with his ability, made him a certainty to be a big success at United.' 

Carrick moved to West Ham as a 16-year-old before eventually making the move to Tottenham

Carrick's achievements at Old Trafford will be celebrated at his testimonial match on Sunday

Ferguson will be back in the Old Trafford dugout on Sunday afternoon as he takes charge of the Manchester United '08 XI, who will play the Michael Carrick All-Stars in the midfielder's testimonial.

Under the stewardship of Ferguson, the United side of 2008 claimed the Premier League and Champions League double and were renowned as the fiercest outfit in Europe almost a decade ago. 

A host of stars from that formidable team including Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, are in line to make an appearance at their old stomping ground and will take on a side comprised of the biggest names in world football over the last two decades.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have had to pull out with fitness concerns with Carrick tweeting: 'Such a shame both Stevie Gerrard and Frank Lampard have picked up injuries. Thanks to the boys for trying so much to play. They'll be missed.'

Manchester United '08 XI vs Michael Carrick All-Stars: Full squad list ahead of testimonial