MANCHESTER UNITED fans will struggle to recognise one of the club’s most famous flops these days.
The former goalkeeper joined United shortly after their Treble triumph in 1999 under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson to replace the great Peter Schmeichel.
The now 53-year-old sported a set of brown floppy hair as he sat between the sticks for the Red Devils.
But now Reggina’s former sporting director has traded his famous locks for a shaven cut his 6ft 3in frame has broadened.
The Italian started strong at Old Trafford following his £4.5million move from Venezia but his performances quickly took a turn for the worse.
The shot stopper put together a Man of the Match display on his debut against Liverpool at Anfield where United won 3-2.
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The keeper than started in a 1-1 draw against Wimbledon and then committed one of the most infamous howlers in Premier League history, which led to a swift exit.
That took place during a 3-3 draw with Southampton when a long-range shot from Matt Le Tissier went straight at the Italian who dropped to the ground to scoop the ball but it rolled underneath his body.
His final appearance took place soon after in a 5-0 loss at Chelsea and that led to his departure in January 2000 as he joined Reggina.
Have you figured the mystery man yet…?
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But it’s of course none other than Massimo Taibi himself!
Taibi went on to have quite a nomadic career playing for four different Italian clubs.
His gaffe at Southampton is still remembered, but he insists it was an honest mistake.
Taibi previously said: “It was just one of those things which happen to goalkeepers. I’ve seen plenty in England and Italy, believe me.
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“Going through the legs, it looks ridiculous, but it happens often. It’s not the first, it wasn’t the last.
“I had a similar incident like that at Torino. It happens. It’s an accident, not an error.
“An error is to come out for the ball and miss it but an innocuous shot which goes through your legs is just a total accident.
“Unfortunately, the week after, we went to Chelsea and lost 5-0 and as I couldn’t play in the Champions League having already been registered with [AC] Milan.
“Ferguson decided, rightly, to sit me out for a little, to give me time to learn the language.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
