Former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey has revealed how the late George Best talked about re-signing for the club in 1981.
Speaking on the UTD Podcast, Bailey told the story of how Best joined up with his former club for pre-season training.
"Years later, in 1981, we were playing in Iceland on tour and Bestie was one of the star players for the Icelandic team and he joined us at Manchester Airport," he recalled.
“We were there with our blazers and he got there with his jeans and t-shirt and looked a million dollars, looking all bronze from living in LA. He had Miss World, Mary Stavin, on his arm and all of us so-called United stars just stood there with our jaws open, going: 'Holy hell, now you're talking about a superstar.'"
Best scored 179 times in 470 United appearances and lifted the European Cup in 1968. Thirteen years on from that famous triumph, at the age of 35, he still had the quality to perform at the highest level.
“In training the following morning, he asked if he could train with us on this pitch in Iceland," Bailey revealed.
“I was there talking to Frank Stapleton, Kevin Moran and Bryan Robson and we were all saying: 'Right, first chance we get, give him a real solid tackle, he's been in LA, probably taking it easy.'
“We tried to kick George, not to injure him but just to let him know that we were around. We just couldn't get him. I'm talking about Robbo, Stapleton, top, top, top players, you know. But we couldn't get him."
Best played so well in pre-season in 1981 that Bailey and his team-mates were hoping that Best would rejoin the Reds. A remarkable return to the Theatre of Dreams was briefly on the cards but unfortunately it never materialised.
“At the end of the match, we gave him a little ripple [of applause] as he walked off," the former goalkeeper added.
"Even having not played for four or five years, George was still head and shoulders above anything we'd ever seen in England. He promised Ron Atkinson that he would come and play for us and we were so excited. The next thing I heard was that he was in London somewhere and he never came back. That was such a pity."
