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      Man Utd icon Rio Ferdinand admits he got so drunk with fan after Champions League final that he showered in his SUIT

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      RIO FERDINAND has revealed his crazy celebrations after Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League win.
      A penalty shootout victory over Chelsea secured the trophy, which the defender lifted with Ryan Giggs having captained the Red Devils in Moscow.

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      Rio Ferdinand knows the feeling of winning and losing a Champions League finalCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      After the final whistle, Ferdinand went on a magnificent bender that, as he revealed on BT Sport, left him showering in his SUIT.
      The 41-year-old admitted: “I don’t remember it, it was that good.
      “After the Champions League final in Moscow, it was the most I’ve ever consumed.
      “I went toe to toe with a fan who got into the party and I was worse for wear the next morning.

      “I ended up showering in my full suit and almost missed the flight home. When you win, you get away with it.”
      However, that win was followed up by final defeats at the hands of Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

      These guys won’t enjoy their holidays this year. I’ve been there.
      Rio Ferdinand

      And Ferdinand talked of how Paris Saint-Germain’s players will struggle to forget Sunday night’s defeat.
      Kingsley Coman’s second-half header turned out to be the only goal after several missed chances for PSG early on, leaving Neymar in tears at the final whistle.

      Ferdinand noted: “These guys won’t enjoy their holidays this year. I’ve been there.

      “You feel like you were that close, you were in the final.
      “You’ll go on a holiday and you’ll be just enjoying yourself and starting to get into the groove… and bang, you’re taken back to this moment and that feeling.
      “It’s terrible and it takes a while to get rid of it.”

      Former PSG player Kingsley Coman scores only goal of Champions League final to complete historic Bayern treble More

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      Patrice Evra reveals why he and Cristiano Ronaldo told Man Utd boss Solskjaer to sign Bruno Fernandes

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      PATRICE EVRA has revealed the integral role he and Cristiano Ronaldo played in bringing Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United.
      The pair were good friends in their three years together at Old Trafford, even if the Frenchman occasionally found his pal a touch too competitive.

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      Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrice Evra gave Manchester United the green light after discussing Bruno Fernandes between themselvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has certainly made the most of Fernandes’ arrivalCredit: Getty – Pool
      And they combined to advise Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on his transfer plans when Fernandes was being monitored at Sporting CP.
      As a Portuguese national team colleague, Ronaldo spoke to Evra for a recommendation to guide the United boss’ thinking.
      Evra told The Guardian why the signing was necessary, stating: “United have qualified for the Champions League. It’s not a big achievement but it’s massive progress from where we’ve come.
      “I love Ole. One game we’re on the bench and I started talking. He said, ‘Patrice. I’m focused’.

      “He would analyse everything so he knows which defender is getting tired. That’s why we called him the Baby Faced Assassin. He helped United win the Champions League [in 1999] that way.
      “United can’t challenge Liverpool or Man City. Not yet. There’s been massive damage but we’re moving in the right direction.

      “When they wanted to sign Bruno Fernandes, Ole texted me. I asked for advice from Cristiano Ronaldo.
      “Cristiano says, ‘Bruno’s a good guy and very professional’.

      “I say, ‘Ole, I’ve spoken with Cristiano. Let’s go for it’.
      “And Fernandes had a massive impact. Without him I don’t think we would have qualified for the Champions League.”
      Indeed, attacking midfielder Fernandes was vital to a successful end to the campaign in Manchester.
      A stunning tally of 12 goals and eight assists in 22 games helped United breach the FA Cup and Europa League semi-finals, with third place in the Premier League secured.

      Cristiano Ronaldo no longer ‘untouchable’ at Juventus and could be sold for £54m with Paris Saint-Germain considering shock transfer More

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      Man Utd defender Chris Smalling ‘wanted by Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and Fulham’ after impressive Roma loan

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      SEVERAL Premier League sides are reportedly circling for Chris Smalling after the defender’s Roma renaissance.
      An impressive loan spell at the Stadio Olimpico has reignited the defender’s career, with the Italians also hoping for more of the Manchester United man.

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      Chris Smalling is a wanted man but may prefer a second spell in RomeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      As SunSport revealed, the £20million price tag placed on Smalling’s head by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has proved a large obstacle for the Giallorossi.
      But Fulham, Newcastle, Everton and West Ham are now all named as interested parties.
      Website 90min reckon the English sides have a better chance of forking out the required fee for the 30-year-old.
      West Ham and Everton are seeking a rise up the table after disappointing campaigns last time out while Steve Bruce’s Newcastle are adjusting to life after the Saudi-funded takeover of the club collapsed.

      A move to newly-promoted Fulham would mean a Craven Cottage return for Smalling, who joined the West London outfit from Maidstone in 2008 before a surprise £12m switch to Manchester.
      Roma remain determined to sign their star of last season, who is said to fancy another year in the Italian capital, but they also face competition from Inter Milan.

      Should a deal be out of their grasp, the club recently purchased by American billionaire Dan Friedkin will reportedly look to Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal.
      And yet, a sensational second chance at Old Trafford is not out of the question.

      With his United career seemingly buried 12 months ago, Smalling has shown his “value” to boss Solskjaer and may get a fresh crack at the first-team.
      The manager stated: “I think Chris has shown over his Manchester United career how valuable he is at Manchester United.
      “This season was about him being a regular and going to Roma and showing how good a centre-back he is, I wanted to give Harry [Maguire], Victor [Lindelof] and maybe Axel [Tuanzebe] a chance.
      “It was best for him to go and play for a year in Roma and he has shown he will be valuable, I’ve been speaking to Chris throughout. I’ve been delighted with his season.”

      Chris Smalling says he has no regrets about joining Roma More

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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