Ferguson expressed some initial reservations about signing Hargreaves, recalling that he didn't feel confident about the player joining Manchester United. Despite this, he acknowledged that Hargreaves' agent was a nice person who genuinely believed the team could help his client develop.

Unfortunately, Hargreaves' time at the club was marked by persistent injuries, which limited him to just 39 appearances over four seasons. He scored two goals and provided two assists during this period.

Ferguson has since stated that Hargreaves struggled with a lack of confidence and was unable to overcome the physical challenges he faced. The former manager described this signing as one of the most disappointing experiences of his career.