Sir Alex Ferguson's ill-fated Man Utd signing he hoped would rival Thierry Henry

David Bellion arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2003 with a reputation as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe - but his Old Trafford career would prove a damp squib

Sir Alex Ferguson had high hopes for Manchester United's first signing after David Beckham's departure – believing he could become the 'next Thierry Henry'.

In 2003, when Arsenal's iconic goalscorer was arguably the Premier League's top player, Ferguson went and signed David Bellion from Sunderland for a fraction of the price Real Madrid paid for Beckham. Despite his speed and finishing power, Bellion's three seasons at Man Utd were underwhelming, and he's barely remembered by fans today.

Bellion kicked off his club career with a goal in a pre-season game against Celtic, and even bagged some silverware in the Community Shield win over Arsenal. However, his performance in the following season didn't quite live up to expectations, scoring only two Premier League goals.

Despite his early promise, Bellion was left out of the squad for the FA Cup final against Millwall. His next season was cut short due to a fractured fibula, and he never played for United again after scoring just eight goals in 40 appearances.

After leaving United, Bellion spent time on loan at West Ham and then in France with Nice, where he managed to revive his career.

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Bellion bounced back from his United nightmare, moving to Bordeaux after a year at Nice and helping them win a league and cup double in 2008/09. He ended his career at French third-tier side Red Star, scoring goals that led them to the title and promotion.

Despite the challenges, Bellion insists he doesn't regret his move to Old Trafford. But it's clear that his signing is seen as a rare misstep in Ferguson's otherwise successful tenure at United.

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