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HE IS Scotland’s only NFL player – but could have just as easily become one of Fergie ’s fledglings.

Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano, 28, had to turn down the chance to be catapulted towards Manchester United stardom.

Long before he became one of the gridiron elite, Mailsport columnist Gano played football for 13 years.

It was his first love and, thanks to his military dad, his travels meant he adored the Scotland national team and Bayern Munich.

A great goalkeeper, it was just before going to high school in Florida that he was approached by a scout.

A Manchester United developmental squad had come over for a summer tournament and Gano ended up stealing the show.

He played out of his skin as his Pensacola team under the tutelage of former Italian professional Romano Michelotti earned a draw.

But all he can do now is wonder what might have been.

Gano said: “My passion growing up was always football so it was great when my coach took me under his wing.

“My team would travel seven or eight hours every weekend just to go to another tournament. Those were some of the best times of my life. Then a guy from the United developmental squad asked me to come to England.

“It didn’t take my dad long to say no as I’d be moving halfway across the world and I was about to start high

school. But they would have paid for my training, schooling and accommodation.

“I do think about how great an experience it would have been and about playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. Obviously that would have been a long way off but it’s nice to be able to say I was offered the starting point.

“I always joke that I would have hated playing for United because I’m a Bayern fan. But nobody would be stupid enough to pass up a chance to play professionally.

“I have just played in a Super Bowl so thankfully my different choice of sport worked out in the end.”

Following his United dream might not have stopped Gano from reaching the Super Bowl.

Toni Fitsch, who played football for Rapid Vienna and won nine caps for Austria, switched to the NFL in 1971.

The kicker went on to win the Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.

And David Beckham was reportedly approached by two NFL teams after his retirement in 2013.