“Bruno turned it round. I think he turned it down. I think he was right,” Pallister told Football Presse. “He was at a different stage of his career, playing one of the best footballers in the Premier League. And he chose to stay and ignore the money on offer over in Saudi.”
Pallister notes that timing and career stage can make all the difference.
“It might be a different scenario for him at the end of the season when they come knocking again,” he said. “Because he can make a difference to any team.”
Drawing on his own experience leaving United for Middlesbrough, Pallister highlights the need to balance ambition and opportunity.
“You do. That’s always in you,” he explained. “You wouldn’t want to be sitting on the sidelines and watching. It’s not what you do. Sir Alex sort of said to me, ‘You won’t maybe play as many games as you would like the following season.’ And he gave me the choice to leave or stay.”