BURNLEY’S Phil Bardsley would still love to fight for the title — against his boxing buddy Wayne Rooney.
Five years ago Rooney was infamously KO’d in his kitchen when the two had a knockabout scrap after a night out.
Phil Bardsley fancies a boxing scrap against old mate Wayne Rooney when they both retireCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
Wayne Rooney was knocked clean out by Phil Bardsley in the kitchen
It was a regular occurrence for the two pals, and England’s all-time leading scorer revealed recently he has often got the gloves out with various mates.
And Bardsley, 34, joked that now Rooney is back in English football at Derby, they could get it on in the ring when they both hang up their boots.
He quipped: “We’re getting ready for when we retire — we’re just negotiating with Eddie Hearn! I want it at MGM in Vegas or New York!
“But yeah, we used to knock f*** out of each other all the time — not necessarily me at his house but in terms of him sparring people. We’re just normal kids from an estate.”
Joking aside, Bardsley DID spend two weeks at the infamous Moss Side Champs Camp ahead of Sunderland’s pre-season training in 2010 — and has made it a regular thing ever since.
He added: “Steve Bruce was boss and basically told me to get my a**e in gear, so I did it then.
“It was 6am, home for a couple of hours and back for boxing at 12.
“That was the lifestyle change I made at that point.
“I got player of the year that season and I’ve done it every summer since.”
This was The Sun’s stunning front page five years agoCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
PHIL BARDSLEY still gets the hairdryer treatment off Sir Alex Ferguson — and he left Old Trafford 12 years ago.
Bardsley is now in the twilight of his career at Burnley, who face Leicester today, but it all started in Manchester United’s youth ranks.
Phil Bardsley reveals he still gets the hairdryer treatment from Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Salford-born right-back learned his trade alongside the likes of Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes — and paid a few visits to the office of Fergie (below) after off-field scraps.
Bardsley, 34, said: “I was in Fergie’s office once or twice, which didn’t help me.
“But he was always good with me, always fair. He gave me the opportunity.
“When I saw him 18 months ago he still gave me a b********g for not having a shave.
“I was walking across the road and a big black Merc pulled out and reversed in.
“He stopped, rolled his window down and shouted, ‘What have I told you, son? Have a f*****g shave!’
“I’m 33 at the time, stood there trying to cross the road — and I’ve just had a b********g from the gaffer. I was only going to the wife’s shop to pick something up.”
But Bardsley will always be a United fan — and the Clarets travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Bardsley added: “I love United, I want Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to do well.
“He was brilliant for me as a young player when Roy Keane used to give me a tough time.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
