Paul Ince spoke to the Daily Mail about topics including inflated player transfer fees and the details of his move to Internazionale.

Thirty-four years ago this month, Manchester United suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at Maine Road. After the match, Sir Alex Ferguson returned to his Cheshire home, went straight to bed, and buried his head in his pillow. Ferguson later wrote: "We chose the worst day to hit rock bottom. Guilt completely consumed me."

In the summer of 1989, several of his new signings were staying at a city centre Ramada Hotel and had no choice but to hide in their rooms that night. Paul Ince, Neil Webb, Gary Pallister, and Danny Wallace had planned to take their partners out for dinner, but security advised that it would be best to order room service.

Ince recalled: "The hotel was packed with fans outside, constantly abusing us, saying we were useless, and so on. We didn't leave the hotel at all that night; we just stayed in our rooms. A week before, I had made my debut at home against Millwall, and we won 5-1. I told my wife Claire then: 'I love it here, playing football is so easy.' But this derby taught us a harsh lesson about what this game truly means to Manchester United fans, to the people of Manchester. This is the rivalry between the two teams. Everyone expected us to beat Manchester City. After that, I remember we never lost to them again, and I scored several goals, which I'm quite proud of."

In fact, it took 13 years and 17 matches for Ferguson's team to lose to Manchester City again. The gap between the two teams widened throughout the 1990s, including Ince's last season at Manchester United, when the Red Devils secured a 5-0 victory over their rivals at Old Trafford, a belated revenge for Manchester United fans.

This Sunday, the two teams will face each other again at Old Trafford for the 199th Manchester derby. The dramatic reversal of fortunes for both teams is perhaps best exemplified by the difference in their midfield recruitment spending this summer.

Manchester City spent a total of £326.6 million on Enzo, Elliot Anderson, and Bouaddi, more than double Manchester United's spending of £155 million on Baleba, Santos, and Tielemans. The two teams have brought in nearly £500 million worth of new midfield talent to Manchester.

Ince, who once formed a formidable midfield partnership with Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, shook his head repeatedly: "I remember when I joined Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson told me: 'I watched you for two years before deciding to sign you.' Two whole years! Now some players are hot for just one season and can be worth £100 million."

"No disrespect to Elliot Anderson, but his previous team, Nottingham Forest, almost got relegated. Enzo at £125 million? I really can't understand it, I truly don't get it; the money in the transfer market has gone ridiculously crazy."

"Manchester United spent £50 million on Santos, who barely played for Chelsea; then £70 million on Baleba, who was injured for most of last season and won't be back until October. Tielemans is £35 million."

"Compare the performances of Roy Keane, Gerrard, Lampard, and these players today, and you'll see that current transfer fees are insane. Today, Keane and Gerrard would both be worth £200 million."

"Manchester United's midfield in our era was probably one of the strongest in Europe. Bryan Robson was my idol, and Keane was a phenomenal player. It's very hard to see players like that now. If we sit here again in 30 years and you ask me who the greatest Manchester United midfielders of all time are, the answer will still be Keane, Robson, and Scholes."

Ferguson's dynasty has gradually crumbled over the past decade, and in Ince's view, it's not just the midfield; comparisons between past and present are everywhere.

"After the gaffer left in 2013, we went through seven or eight managers. Recruitment was a mess, top management was equally bad, there were many problems with how the club was run, so what results could you expect?"

"Manchester United kept trying different types of coaches, but none of them succeeded. The club initially gave Solskjaer a two-year contract, and everyone saw what happened next. I just hope Carrick doesn't make the same mistakes. Is he ready to manage a big club? I can't say."

"It's interesting that someone who just got sacked at Middlesbrough can turn around and take on one of the biggest jobs in world football. The world of football is that absurd, but we can't keep changing managers frequently. A manager must be given a stable period to work, and I think Carrick deserves this opportunity."

Ince, who is a month shy of his 59th birthday, is still willing to take on challenges, just like the sharp 21-year-old who moved from West Ham to Old Trafford in 1989.

He joined several former Premier League legends in a studio in the Manchester suburbs for a public awareness campaign launched jointly by the British Heart Foundation and Sky Sports, aimed at dispelling myths about defibrillators and easing public concerns about using them.

"There are fewer and fewer players with personality in football," said Ince, who also played for Internazionale and Liverpool during his career and earned 53 caps for England. "Now players are more concerned about themselves and what others think. Everyone is careful, full of worries, debating what they can and cannot do. If I were a player today and couldn't handle online comments, I wouldn't touch social media at all. If you can't stand it, just quit."

"We dared to express our opinions back then. If Ferguson said something to me that I didn't agree with, I would tell him directly. It was the same between Roy Keane and me. We would have disagreements, but when it was time to play, we played well. Privately, we were good partners, fighting side by side. That quality has disappeared now."

Ince also recalls that after Manchester United's 3-1 victory over Norwich at Carrow Road in 1993, as they moved closer to their long-awaited league title, he and Ferguson had to be separated and reasoned with by others. During his time at Manchester United, he won two Premier League titles, as well as the FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, and European Super Cup.

Ferguson was always concerned about Ince's flamboyant "Guv'nor" image and also wanted to make room for the young Nicky Butt to develop. In the summer of 1995, after Manchester United won the double but then lost the league title to Blackburn and the FA Cup to Everton, Ferguson, despite board opposition, approved Ince's £7.5 million transfer to Internazionale.

At the time, Ince was playing golf with Giggs at Mottram Hall Golf Club when Ferguson drove over to the course to inform him of the decision in person.

"I was on the 17th hole, leading by one shot, and when I heard the news, I was stunned," Ince recalled with a laugh, as he still participates in celebrity golf series with Giggs.

In the final stages of the deal, Ince was at his home in Bramhall, with his agent and an Internazionale delegation led by President Moratti finalising contract details. Ferguson, who was on holiday in Colorado, called to persuade him to cancel the transfer.

"To be honest, the die was cast," Ince said. "We were sitting in the kitchen, with Moratti, the vice-president, and a few accompanying staff present, their usual entourage. Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: 'Listen, Paul, I want you to stay. Butt will be coming through soon, and you'll need to compete for your place.' No disrespect, Butt was a very good player and a good friend of mine, but at that stage, he wasn't as good as me. When I heard that, I thought 'no thanks,' and that's how I left Manchester United."

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