NFL star Graham Gano could have been playing for Manchester United, it has been revealed.

The Daily Record says the Carolina Panthers kicker's passion was football in his formative years before he became an elite of the gridiron.

Gano, 28, played the sport 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 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.

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."