Danny Welbeck, a striker for Manchester United, was born to Ghanaian parents in Manchester. As such, he was eligible to play for both England and Ghana. Asamoah Gyan, the former Ghanaian captain, convinced him to play for the Black Stars, but Sir Alex Ferguson, his then-manager at Manchester United, convinced him otherwise.
Veteran sports journalist Dan Kwaku Yeboah revealed that Gyan persuaded Welbeck to play for Ghana. However, a day before Welbeck’s official decision, Sir Alex Ferguson learned of it and threatened him not to play for Ghana, as it could mean the end of his Manchester United career.
Despite this, Welbeck remains a fan of Ghana’s national team, as seen in his celebration of his club teammate Tariq Lamptey’s decision to play for Ghana over England.
In a nutshell, Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence played a significant role in Welbeck’s decision to choose England over Ghana. This highlights the power of managers in players’ decisions, and the challenges that national teams face in recruiting eligible players who may have strong ties to other countries.