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      Patrice Evra warned he had made ‘biggest mistake’ joining Man Utd after receiving Alex Ferguson hairdryer on debut

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      PATRICE EVRA has revealed the regret felt after making a shocking debut for Manchester United.
      Sir Alex Ferguson hooked the left-back at half-time of his first start against Manchester City in January 2006 – a game the Red Devils lost 3-1.

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      Patrice Evra enjoyed a hugely successful time under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old TraffordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      And Evra has detailed the sharp put-down he received from the legendary boss that led to the defender’s agent apologising for taking him to Manchester in the first place.
      The 39-year-old told The Guardian: “My first introduction to the real Sir Alex was my debut against Manchester City.
      “At half-time he gave the hairdryer for one minute to every player. It was a long 15 minutes.
      “At the end he said to me in five seconds, ‘Patrice, sit down. You will learn how to play in England’.

      “That night my agent said, ‘We made the biggest mistake coming here. I’m sorry’. I was upset but I was burning.”
      Evra would eventually turn around his United career to become a mainstay of Fergie’s later successes.

      However, the Scot tried to ensure his charges never became too big headed and even made an example of Evra as a warning shot to the rest of the squad.
      The Frenchman recalled one half-time of a win over Tottenham: “Everyone’s saying, ‘Patrice, you’re playing amazing’. The worst is when Ferguson stays quiet.

      “He was quiet that day for five minutes. He looks straight in my eyes. ‘Patrice, do you think you’re playing good?’ I say, ‘Yeah’. Ferguson says, ‘I saw you pass the ball back to [Edwin] Van der Saar’.
      “‘Yes, boss, but just one’. He said, ‘If you pass the ball back again I take you off because this is one of your worst games’.
      “My eyes start burning because I don’t like the injustice. We won 4-0 and the next day I go to Ferguson’s office. ‘Hello, son, what’s the problem?’
      “‘Boss, the problem is yesterday’. Ferguson says, ‘Patrice, some players were disrespecting the opposition. I wanted everyone focused. I picked you to give them the message because you’re strong’.”
      IT’S NOT JU, IT’S ME
      After leaving for Juventus in 2014, the left-back revealed his unhappiness with how Ed Woodward handled his contract situation but was left missing Manchester.
      With Ferguson having retired, he knew that his successor was doomed to failure as he recalled a stirring speech before the 2008 Champions League final.
      Evra said: “He didn’t talk football. He said, ‘Imagine Patrice with his 24 brothers and sisters. His parents have to feed them all on a bad street’.
      “He talked about Rooney growing up in a tough part of Liverpool. Carlos Tevez coming from Argentina. He talked about difficulties for other players.

      Patrice Evra posts passionate message that no one is born racist
      “He then said, ‘This is my victory. We have already won the Champions League. Enjoy the game’. Even now I’m having goosebumps.
      “When Ferguson left, United lost their DNA, their philosophy.
      “He was inspiring so much respect, so much fear, and if any player starts thinking he is bigger than the team then he destroyed you. The players always wanted to play for Ferguson.
      “I tried my best for David Moyes but I knew it would be a disaster because players won’t respect him like that. It was a mission impossible.” More

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      Harry Maguire may be left out of England squad as Gareth Southgate aims to let Mykonos drama blow over

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will consider leaving Harry Maguire out of the England squad in order to let his Mykonos drama blow over.
      Maguire yesterday flew home to face the football fallout from the boozy brawl that landed him in court.

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      Harry Maguire pictured outside on court on the Greek island of Mykonos

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      Gareth Southgate must make a decision over the Manchester United skipper’s place in his squad
      His legal case could be wrapped up as soon as Tuesday — the day Southgate is due to name his party for the Uefa Nations League trips to Iceland and Denmark.
      But the Three Lions boss may well decide to take the Manchester United captain out of the firing line and prevent all the focus being on how he performed in the wake of the Greek incident.
      United’s involvement in the Europa League semi-finals means Maguire would have limited time to regain match fitness for next month’s games in any case.
      Omitting the 2018 World Cup star from the first England squad for ten months would still be a big call for Southgate, but it looks like the best solution for all sides.

      United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of time before the new season to decide whether Maguire, 27, deserves to keep the armband.
      But Southgate has to make a call much sooner.

      The England boss will not want to pre-judge the legal case, in which the defender has denied all charges.

      And the fact Maguire has been allowed to leave Greece supports claims his alleged crimes are misdemeanours rather than felonies.
      But at the same time, Southgate must weigh up how far Maguire has broken the unwritten rules he expects England players to follow.
      The Three Lions boss dropped Raheem Sterling from a Euro 2020 qualifier last November following an altercation with Joe Gomez while on international duty.
      On the face of it, that was a more minor incident than what is alleged to have happened on Mykonos in the early hours of last Friday.
      When asked in June about how he would treat stars like Jack Grealish for breaking lockdown rules, the England boss said he would not judge anyone on one incident.

      Harry Maguire played more minutes than any other footballer in the world in 2019-20

      But Southgate stressed: “It is clear the character of your senior players and the influential players and the drive within the team is critical.
      “All of our players have to recognise that  with England there’s a further level of profile as well.
      “And they’ll be held more accountable than just a player that plays club football. They have to be conscious of that.”

      Harry Maguire leaves court after ‘brawl with Brits and police’ in Mykonos More

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      Man Utd boost in £40m David Brooks transfer chase as Bournemouth admit ALL players are up for sale

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S hopes of signing David Brooks have been boosted after Bournemouth admitted they “won’t stand in anybody’s way” if a star wants to leave.
      New Cherries boss Jason Tindall has accepted that, following relegation to the Championship, each of their players has a price.

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      Man Utd have been handed a boost in their chase of David BrooksCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Rumours are circulating that United will need to bid £40million to sign Welsh winger Brooks.
      The 23-year-old barely played in Bournemouth’s relegation campaign after ankle surgery but is considered a top prospect after an impressive debut season the year before.
      And Tindall will allow Brooks a move if the price is right.
      He told the Bournemouth Echo: “We as a football club have got a value of what we believe for our players.

      “And if that value is met then players have got the opportunity to then discuss with whoever they need to discuss with and then make the decision they feel is right for them.
      “But first and foremost, it needs to be right for the football club and once it’s right for the football club then, as you’ve seen in the past, I don’t think it’s a club that will stand in anybody’s way providing that the club’s happy with and it meets the valuation of the player.”
      BOUR OFF
      Nathan Ake and Aaron Ramsdale have already departed Vitality Stadium for a combined £58.5m.
      Boss Tindall hopes the exodus will not go on much longer with Brooks, Josh King and Callum Wilson touted for moves.

      He noted: “Until any offers come in for any players then they remain in Bournemouth regardless anyway.
      “The squad are happy here. They know they’re at a fantastic club and it’s a club that’s going places and want to achieve something this year.

      “I think when you’ve got that purpose as a player where you’re going into a season where you’re looking to be successful and achieve something, I think it’s a great thing to have and people want to be a part of that.”
      United remain determined to sign Jadon Sancho but have so far been unable to persuade Borussia Dortmund to sell up.
      A £108m price tag continues to be reported as the sticking point in bringing the England winger back to Manchester.
      Should the bid collapse, Brooks is said to be a target along with Juventus star Douglas Costa.

      How Man Utd could line up vs Crystal Palace with Jadon Sancho and Upamecano in but Rashford out after landing transfers More

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      Man Utd and Real Madrid dealt transfer blow with Eduardo Camavinga revealing he will stay at Rennes this season

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      RENNES starlet Eduardo Camavinga will NOT move to Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer.
      The French midfielder, still just 17, has stated that he wants to remain with the Ligue 1 club for at least another year.

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      Eduardo Camavinga featured 36 times for Rennes last seasonCredit: AFP or licensors
      LaLiga giants Real were thought to be the frontrunner for Camavinga after months of speculation.
      However, amid reports that the player wants a 2021 switch to Madrid, he has committed his future to the team that gave him a debut at a mere four months after his 16th birthday – a club record.
      Camavinga revealed on Telefoot: “I have two years of contract left, I will be with Rennes this season.
      “[The speculation] doesn’t bother me at all.

      “It’s football. There are true things and there are false things.”
      Despite being rated at £25million by some of Europe’s top clubs, Camavinga is intent on a normal life.

      He continued: “I live normally but I try not to be too careful, I let my parents handle it all.
      “I live my teenage life, I go out, I go to school.”

      Rennes are likely to face a plethora of offers for the teenager next summer, particularly with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich also said to be keen on his services.
      United could come back in with fresh interest as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to maintain the youthful energy of his squad.
      Rennes chief Olivier Letang has admitted that Camavinga’s desires will be a major factor in how the Brittany club deal with his future.
      The club president previously said: “If it were up to me I would like to keep him for another 10 years.
      “There are requests, there is a market, there are also the player’s wishes.”

      Four Premier League teams crack the top ten highest wage bills in Europe

      Eduardo Camavinga enjoys himself at MS Team 2020 football training camp More

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      Ex-Man Utd starlet John O’Kane reveals autism battle after having professionalism questioned by Gary Neville

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      JOHN O’KANE was known as ‘The Spaceman’ because he always seemed to be out there on his own planet.
      Sir Alex Ferguson told him he had more ability than Gary Neville but would slap him on the head before games because he often seemed so distant.

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      Former Man Utd youngster John O’Kane has revealed he has battled autism for much of his lifeCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      After he left Manchester United for Everton, boss Walter Smith bumped into him in a Goodison corridor and said: “Oh, you’re the lazy b, aren’t you?”
      Last year, Neville had a Twitter spat with his fellow Class of ’92 member, declaring that O’Kane was wasting his time waging war on United’s owners, the Glazers.
      Neville tweeted: “Are there 2 John O’Kanes?
      “The one I knew that cowered at the thought of giving his all for the club and was unprofessional whilst wearing the shirt.

      “And this one who is a Twitter warrior and represents the fans with all his heart. Can’t be the same bloke surely!”

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      Gary Neville had questioned O’Kane’s professionalism as a footballerCredit: PA:Press Association
      O’Kane is indeed the same bloke.
      It is just that he was never the bloke that Neville, Fergie, Smith and all the others who criticised him for lacking focus and wasting his talent, thought he was.
      O’Kane is autistic and, until now, has never made that public.

      He has just retired after 15 years working with disadvantaged kids because he also suffers from stage four kidney disease.
      There is a danger that, like former United star Andy Cole two years ago, a kidney transplant may be needed to save his life.
      Yet O’Kane, 45, insisted he has never been happier.
      He said: “They’ve got me on pills for my kidney condition and everything is under control.
      “What was never under control when I was playing was my mental state because of autism.
      “My team-mates would call me The Spaceman, because at times I seemed a bit detached.
      “And Sir Alex — in a good way — would whack me to get me going. There was a battle with Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest to sign me when I was 15.
      “I came from Nottingham but Sir Alex got me after he invited me to his home.
      “There was this surreal experience of us having a game of snooker together before we went to a game against Arsenal.

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      Some of John O’Kane’s class of ’92 team-mates enjoyed a bit more success than himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “He always liked me, always said ‘Come on, you are my best right-back — go out and prove it’.
      “And I knew I was more gifted than most but I was never as committed because I was constantly battling things in my head.
      “All my managers and team-mates knew there was something ‘different’ about me.
      “I always knew I was autistic but I just tried to get on with it.
      “But it was always such a mental drain. Nobody knew what I was really going through.
      “Howard Kendall signed me for Everton in 1998, then got sacked and Walter Smith took over.
      “By then I had the reputation of being too laid back, not committed enough, not hungry enough and Smith made his feelings clear.
      “We never got on and he got rid of me as soon as he could.
      “I never said there was pressure in my brain as well as on my body — I was just ‘lazy’ John O’Kane who threw his career away.”
      The former right-back ended that career at non–league Hyde.
      He quit the game in 2006 and is now writing his autobiography.
      O’Kane added: “Had I been able to be more emotionally committed, I might have been winning the 1999 Treble.

      “But I spent 15 years working with kids in the care sector.
      “They are my medals and I’m prouder of the work I did helping those poor youngsters than anything I ever did in the game.
      “I’m speaking out now about my autism because, if that helps one other person suffering in silence, then that will make me prouder still of my life.” More

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      De Gea defends position at Man Utd by insisting ‘I trust in myself’ as pressure mounts for Dean Henderson to return

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      DAVID DE GEA has defended his position at Manchester United, insisting “I am still the number one”.
      The Spanish goalkeeper has come under pressure this season after a number of calamitous errors not least in the FA Cup semi-final.

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      David De Gea plans to stick around as Manchester United’s No1 next seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He got the nod over Sergio Romero for the Europa League semi-final on Sunday and conceded twice as United went down 2-1 to Sevilla.
      But De Gea said: “I trust in myself.
      “I have shown my qualities all the years. So I will just stay available for the manager.

      “I’m always ready to play and try to help the team, as I have always done.”
      There have been calls for Dean Henderson to be made the number one after he returned from two successful seasons on loan at Sheffield United.
      Henderson also wants to be assured by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or will insist on leaving either on loan or in a permanent deal.

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      De Gea has just completed his ninth season with the club but has just four trophies to his name during that time – a Premier League title, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.

      Another campaign has now passed with United empty-handed following their defeat to Sevilla.
      It is the first time they have gone three seasons without a trophy in 30 years.
      And De Gea believes a lack of experience in Solskjaer’s young team cost them at the semi-final stage of a competition for the third time this season.
      De Gea said: “We deserve to be in the final, if we are honest.
      “But maybe we need a bit of experience, more experience on the team, but we have to score the chances. That was the point for us.”

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      Dean Henderson is knocking on the United custodian’s doorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      De Gea still believes there are plenty of positives from the season not least in hunting down both Chelsea and Leicester to claim third place in the league
      He said: “I think we improved this season. We were 14 points behind the third position in the Premier League and we finished third at the end.
      “I think we are playing very good football, attacking football.
      “Let’s keep improving, let’s keep fighting for this club and let’s try to win trophies next season.”

      Ally McCoist says Manchester United have a ‘big decision to make’ regarding David De Gea with Dean Henderson ‘playing particularly well at Sheffield United’ More

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      Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand reveals his first run-in with Cristiano Ronaldo and how Sir Alex Ferguson sealed transfer

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand revealed the first time he knew Cristiano Ronaldo was going to be a superstar.
      The TV pundit explained how Ronaldo dazzled as an 18-year-old for Sporting Lisbon in a pre-season friendly against United in 2003.

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      Rio Ferdinand explained how Manchester UNited signed Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He had such an impact that legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief exec David Gill delayed the team bus by an hour as they desperately tried to sign the Portuguese winger after the game.
      The match was held to christen the opening of the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon and United wasted no time in beating off the competition to poach Ronaldo for themselves.
      Ferdinand told BT Sport: “He started there.
      “We arrived there coming back from America on tour, this was the last leg everyone was knackered, jet-lagged etc and we got asked to play in it late.

      “We obviously got there, opened the stadium, we came off that pitch and anyone who didn’t know about Cristiano Ronaldo before we got there definitely did by the time we left.
      “When we got to the stadium in the pre-match warm-up, people started, it got around – people saying that kid there, he’s meant to be a superstar.
      “Bearing in mind we’d missed out on signing Ronaldinho as well that summer.
      Signing Ronaldo
      “We were still on the search for a superstar but we didn’t see it coming in the form of a young teenager.

      “But by the time the game finished all the players were saying to the manager ‘When are we going to get him?’
      “We were sat on the coach after – ‘Where are we going?’ – delayed an hour, want to get home after a big tour.
      “And the manager and David Gill, the chief executive at the time, were upstairs doing a deal trying to sign him straight away, great recruitment.”

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      Rio Ferdinand explained how Sir Alex Ferguson snared Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor

      “It got around in the warm-up, that kid there, he’s a superstar.””We were sat on the coach afterwards, delayed an hour, David Gill and Sir Alex were upstairs trying to sign him!”@RioFerdy5 remembers his first run-in with a young Ronaldo 🇵🇹#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/EFgfPmXD1A
      — Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 15, 2020

      Fans have compared Ronaldo’s leadership skills with wantaway Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi.
      And the 35-year-old Portuguese icon showed off his killer abs while on a luxury yacht holiday.
      Ronaldo was joined on board by his parter Georgina Rodriguez with rumours circulating that Paris Saint-Germain could make a shock move for the former Real Madrid man.

      Cristiano Ronaldo goes diving on holiday as his camp slam ‘completely false’ rumours of transfer away from Juventus More

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      Bruno Fernandes breaks silence on row with Man Utd team-mate Victor Lindelof and insists ‘it’s normal, everyone was mad’

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      BRUNO FERNANDES has played down his on-pitch row with Victor Lindelof as Manchester United crashed out of the Europa League.
      The Swedish defender was hammered for losing goalscorer Luuk de Jong as the Dutchman struck a 78th-minute winner for Sevilla in Sunday’s semi-final.

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      TV cameras picked up the furious argument between the United teammates on the pitch
      After the goal, Fernandes was seen lambasting Lindelof, pointing and shouting at his colleague who looked astonished at being blamed, shaking his head and bellowing back at the playmaker.
      The matter was dealt with there and then, as 25-year-old Fernandes saw it, and he explained post-game that “everyone” was angry after conceding the goal.
      He told BT Sport: “I think it’s normal, you know, when you [concede] a goal in the last [minutes] – we have 10 minutes after to score again.
      “Everyone was mad. It’s not about me or Victor, it’s about every team.

      “What happened between me and Victor is nothing. It’s normal, it’s football, it happens. It’s looking for each other.
      “There will be many more times these things happen in other teams.

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      Victor Lindelof was guilty of losing Luuk de Jong for Sevilla’s winning goalCredit: EPA

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      But Bruno Fernandes and Co had missed several good chances down the other endCredit: AFP

      “The most important thing now is we need to see the mistakes everyone did and look forward to improve in the next games.”
      Fernandes had set United on their way to victory in Cologne with the side’s 22nd penalty of the season.

      Yet slack defending allowed an unmarked Suso to level from the far-post after 25 minutes.
      Still, United had the lion’s share of the chances and Yassine Bounou’s exceptional performance in the Sevilla goal helped consign Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to their third semi-final defeat of the season.

      Bruno Fernandes’ penalty technique at Sporting Lisbon More