There’s an unwritten, yet simple rule when it comes to playing for Manchester United – don’t play for Liverpool.
But defender Gabriel Heinze clearly didn’t get the memo in 2007 when he tried forcing through a move to the Red Devils’ arch-rivals.
Michael Owen is one of those, with United legend Paul Ince the first to cross the divide.
However, if there is any comfort to supporters, neither player actually directly crossed that north west divide.
Ince was a key part of United’s early dominance of the Premier League era (1992 onwards) having signed from West Ham quite controversially in 1989.
The midfielder scored 28 goals in 281 games for United, helping them win ten major honours – including two Premier League titles – before heading to Serie A side Inter in 1995.
It was when he returned to England two years later that he felt the wrath of Fergie and co. when he joined Liverpool.
But Ince tells talkSPORT he did nothing wrong when asked by host Jim White whether he believes he made the wrong choice in swapping the San Siro for Anfield due to the rivalry.
Incredibly, you have to go back to 1964 for the last time a player directly moved between clubs when Phil Chisnall joined Liverpool.
“I’d have never have gone to Liverpool straight from Manchester United or from Liverpool straight to Manchester United. That is a cardinal sin,” he explained, before adding United had the chance to bring him back.
When I left to go to Inter Milan, I didn’t want to leave Manchester United.
“Whether I would have gone back I don’t know, but all I know is I had two years at Inter, I had another three years left on my contract, obviously the family situation was difficult so we came back.
“We signed [Brazilian legend] Ronaldo for the next season and I wanted to play with him, but I obviously didn’t get the luxury of doing that.
“[Former club secretary] Peter Robinson came over from Liverpool, we sat down and had some lunch, we agreed that was the way I was going to go.
I love the north west [of England]. I’d spent six or seven years there at Man United, knew Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, David James, so it was easy to settle in.”
Asked if he had any doubts as to whether he made the right decision, Ince remarked: “None whatsoever. I’ve always looked at the Liverpool fans as knowledgeable people.
“Just as a city, they look after their own, and as soon as you become their own, they take you in – irrespective of whether you’ve played here or there – they take you in.
“From day one, I had not one problem with the people at Liverpool.”
Following his switch to Merseyside in 1997, Ince found the back of the net 17 times in 81 outings across two seasons, though he failed to win silverware before heading for the exit in 1999.
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