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      Gareth Bale names his dream Tottenham five-a-side team and picks Cristiano Ronaldo as the best he’s ever played with

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      GARETH BALE picked Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in his dream Tottenham five-a-side team.The Welshman opted almost entirely for Spurs players that he starred alongside during the 2020-21 season – but revealed Cristiano Ronaldo stands above them all.
      Bale’s best Spurs five-a-side team
      The Welshman listed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best he’s ever played withCredit: REUTERS
      Following a storied career, Gareth Bale hung up his boots at the age of 33 n January following his World Cup appearance with The Dragons..
      Although Wales boss Rob Page has admitted he’d love to have Bale involved in their international set-up in some capacity.
      The five-time Champions League winner featured alongside the likes of Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart during his first stint at White Hart Lane.
      But Bale, who originally picked himself in his dream team, snubbed both of them when asked for his best Spurs side during a Twitch Q&A in 2021.
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      He said: “I’d go Hugo [Lloris] in goal just because he’s the best I’ve seen in a Tottenham shirt.
      “I would go Ledley King at the back just because he’s the king and he was the best centre-back I’ve ever seen.
      “If it wasn’t for injuries he would have been the best in the world no doubt.
      “I would go up front Harry for the amount of goals he’s scored and he’s an amazing player. Then I’d go me and Sonny beside him. An attacking trio.”
      Joe Rodon picked Tanguy Ndombele which prompted the presenter to quiz Bale about why he didn’t pick the Frenchman or Mousa Dembele.
      I would go up front Harry for the amount of goals he’s scored and he’s an amazing player. Then I’d go me and Sonny beside him…Actually I’d take myself out and put Tanguy inGareth Bale
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      He replied: “I’ve only got five and I feel loyal to Sonny and H. I’ve got to see them tomorrow.
      “Actually I’d take myself out and put Tanguy in. I’ll be manager.”
      Elsewhere in the interview, Bale overlooked all of his old Spurs pals when he named Cristiano Ronaldo as the best he’s ever played with.
      He gushed: “Cristiano Ronaldo. For me, just the amount of goals he scores and the titles that we won together.
      “I think arguably one of the best ever to play football. For me, I will have to say him.”
      Gareth Bale loved playing with Harry Kane and Son Heung-minCredit: Getty More

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      I played for Man Utd in the Champions League in 2003, but now I am a builder and trained plumber

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      ON March 18, 2003 Lee Roche was thrown in at the deep end – handed his Champions League debut against Deportivo La Coruna in a 2-0 defeat.Some five years later, he was left on the football scrapheap and now works on building sites installing cavity wall insulation, and is a trained plumber.
      Former Man Utd youngster Lee Roche made his Champions League debut in 2003Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Today, Roche is a builder and trained plumber

      Now 42, Roche was given a free transfer two months after his bow in Europe’s premier club competition.
      And when a football career petered out after spells at Wrexham, Burnley and Droylsden, the youngster had to come up with a different plan in life with the help of the PFA.
      COMING TO AN END
      At the age of 27, Roche was admittedly fed up of the game.
      He’d bounced from a loan deal at Wrexham to Burnley, then back to Wrexham again.
      read more on Man Utd
      Injuries began to take their toll, and the former England U21 star lost his hunger for playing.
      “I was coming home and not wanting to even watch football on the TV, he told Planet Football.
      After he was released by the Welsh club, he trained with Royal Antwerp and former United youth Warren Joyce.
      But when a move failed to materialise, he signed for non-league Droylsden in 2007.
      It was there he started to think about a life after the beautiful game.
      Promising youngster Roche was released by Man Utd in 2003 and after bouncing around at different clubs needed to find a different careerCredit: Getty
      Roche, chatting to PFA member Don Goodman, was helped by the organisation to retrain in a new careerCredit: Twitter @PFA
      With the help of the PFA, Roche now has his own cavity wall insulation business
      The PFA supported the lost talent and helped him retrain in another profession.
      Today, Roche is a qualified plumber and has his own cavity wall insulation business.
      “I have had a few fellow workers on the building sites asking me about United and how have I ended up here,” he revealed.
      “It can get pretty tiresome so I don’t go shouting about that I played for United. I do think young players today should be made to train as something, so they know about the real world.
      “Most of them probably don’t have a plan to fall back on if they don’t make it as a professional.”
      BAPTISM OF FIRE
      Roche made two starts for United, but it was always in scratch sides.
      His debut came in 2001 in a Worthington Cup tie against Arsenal – a 4-0 thrashing in a team that featured mainly reserve players.
      In 2001 Roche appeared for Man Utd for the very first time against Arsenal in a Worthington Cup tieCredit: PA
      Roche, up against Arsenal striker Kanu, couldn’t believe the size of his opponents feetCredit: PA
      “Sylvain Wiltord scored a hat-trick and I remember Kanu being a massive handful – I couldn’t get over the size of his feet,” Roche joked.
      “At one point, he flicked the ball over my head and volleyed it, but it went just over the bar, thankfully, otherwise it would have been one of those goals which would have been shown forever.
      “There was no hairdryer from Sir Alex afterwards because he knew we had been up against it. I took what I could from that game and tried to learn from it.”
      A year later, Roche came on as a sub against Newcastle United in front of a packed house at Old Trafford in a 5-3 win.
      “It was unbelievable, coming on in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford,” he said.
      “I did okay, but I remember Sir Alex talking to me afterwards because Alan Shearer had beaten me at the far post to win a header, so he told me to get up first and not let the forwards do that to me.”
      THE BIG LEAGUE
      Roche’s third and final performance for United was in the Champions League.
      Roche made his final appearance for United against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      At half-time Roche was hauled off as United lost 2-0 to the LaLiga sideCredit: PA
      He appeared against Deportivo, who at the time were LaLiga challengers to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Playing in a back three with Laurent Blanc and John O’Shea, the Red Devils look disjointed in a different formation.
      Roche, himself, was hauled off at half-time with the Premier League giants trailing 1-0 at the break.
      “I was up against (Albert) Luque and thought I had done alright, but I wasn’t going to come off and start arguing with Sir Alex,” he said.
      “Giggsy told me to keep my chin up and that I had not done anything wrong. Sir Alex didn’t tell me why I had been substituted, but I didn’t want to overthink it.”
      ‘NO REGRETS’
      Despite how his football career turned out, Roche is thankful for his time at Manchester United.
      Although he doesn’t have any regrets, there is one thing perhaps he might’ve done different.
      “I don’t have any regrets,” Roche revealed.
      Despite his career not panning out how he had hoped, Roche was no regretsCredit: Rex
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      “The only thing I would point out is that I was known at United for being really quiet, so perhaps I should have been more assertive and mingled more with the lads.
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      “I’d be straight off home after training to hang out with my own group of friends. I look back now at team-mates like John (O’Shea) and Darren Fletcher and think I should have been more like them and gone out and socialised.
      “I think it would have gone down better with United.” More

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      Former Man Utd star Chris Eagles says his journey was like David Beckham’s and was a Sir Alex Ferguson favourite

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      CHRIS EAGLES has likened his time as a Manchester United prodigy to that of David Beckham.Signed from Watford in 2000, the midfielder would earn several comparisons to the England legend as he emerged at Old Trafford.
      Chris Eagles has opened up on his time at Manchester United as a teenagerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      David Beckham also moved to the United academy from his home in the southCredit: PA:Press Association
      Like Beckham, Eagles was plucked from well outside United’s catchment area and the Hertfordshire-born player recalled how he made the move.
      The 37-year-old told Ladbrokes: “I went up there for a game and just fell in love with the club.
      “I moved into digs at 14 and at first I was obviously excited because it was like a holiday to me. I loved Manchester, I love northerners.
      “School was difficult because I was a southerner, but training-wise we used to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays and play on Saturdays.
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      “My youth team was frightening; we didn’t lose. In the old days we had myself, Phil Bardsley, Luke Steele, Kieran Richardson, Tom Heaton, Paul McShane, Gerard Pique, Giuseppe Rossi.
      “School helped me a lot; I got much better results because I was away from home and my friends which meant I just concentrated on getting good results.
      “Man United made sure we worked hard and got good grades. The only time I’d have off to come home was in school holidays, but it would never be for a long time.
      “In digs I started off living with a family on my own – I still see them now actually, four times a week, they look after my kids!
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      “Then I was with Fraizer Campbell who stayed for long weekends because he was only from Huddersfield. But I was there more or less on my own.
      “Sir Alex Ferguson had a lot of involvement with me as a kid because he knew I’d moved away from home.
      “I wasn’t too dissimilar to David Beckham in that respect; we’d both moved from London to Manchester as youngsters.”
      Red Devils icon Ferguson gave Eagles his debut in 2003 but he failed to make the cut and left for Burnley after several loan spells.
      But the former prodigy knew that Fergie, 81, held him in high regard as one of his top young stars despite a telling-off for underage driving.
      He continued: “Sir Alex had his certain players like me, Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson who he had soft spots for. If I was ever trouble he’d tell me off, though.
      “I drove a car somewhere when I was 15 and Sir Alex found out about it and called me in his office. I was petrified.
      “It’s the worst experience ever because you don’t know what he’s going to do. I can remember standing outside of his office, sweating, going red.
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      “He used to have a folder where he used to keep his notes. It was a hard-back. Every time he walked past me he used to just slap me on the head with it – all in good humour obviously.
      “He was just a great manager, a great guy, and that’s how he got his respect.”
      Eagles spoke highly of Sir Alex Ferguson’s effort with the young playersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      I’m a Leicester title winner turned MMA fighter and am known for strange things like eating WINE GLASSES

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      MARCIN WASILEWSKI demonstrated his hunger for Premier League title glory… by chomping on a WINE GLASS in a posh restaurant.The Polish hardman spent four seasons with the Foxes, helping them to famously lift the 2016 crown against all odds.
      Marcin Wasilewski laughed as he bit into a wine glass, a former team-mate has revealedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bearded Wasilewski, a fearsome centre-back, was tipped to switch sports and take up cage fighting.
      The now 42-year-old’s former clubmate Ritchie De Laet has revealed the Pole’s bizarre antics during his King Power career.
      Antwerp captain De Laet told Belgian paper Het Nieuwsblad: “Marcin was truly a very nice person – untypical, but likeable.
      “He was the sort of guy you have a laugh with, but who does some strange things.
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      “I remember going for a meal with him at a very smart restaurant.
      “All of a sudden he picked up his glass and literally bit into it, without turning a hair.
      “There were pieces of glass everywhere. He looked at me and started laughing.
      “I just couldn’t understand what he had done at all.”
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      Ritchie De Laet (left) played over 100 games for LeicesterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Wasilewski previously helped Leicester win the Championship in 2014.
      The 60-cap international was not the only member of Claudio Ranieri’s squad to play by his own rules.
      De Laet also revealed how Jamie Vardy would drink entire bottles of port before matches.
      The ex-England striker also regularly asked De Laet’s family and friends to bring him cases of beer from Belgium. More

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      Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said Bayern loss after Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss was his saddest moment

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      JOSE MOURINHO once revealed the only time he cried after a defeat was when Real Madrid lost a Champions League semi-final on penalties to Bayern Munich back in 2012.Back in May, Mourinho broke down in tears again, but this time they were tears of joy after guiding Roma to the final of the Europa Conference League.
      Jose Mourinho admitted he cried after a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich back in 2012Credit: EPA
      But going back 10 years the Portuguese gaffer had already steered Real Madrid to a record-setting year in LaLiga when he welled up after being denied the chance to make it to a Champions League final.
      Madrid were the heavy favourites for Europe’s top competition having overhauled Barcelona domestically with the most points, goals and home wins.
      Mourinho, who had already lifted the Champions League twice with Porto and Inter Milan, missed out on a three-piece at the Bernabeu in heartbreaking fashion.
      The Special One saw Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos miss from the spot as Madrid fell to Bayern on pens in the 2012 semi-finals.
      He would have met former club Chelsea in the final, who in turn, bested the Bundesliga side in a shootout to win their first-ever Champions League.
      And speaking to Spanish outlet MARCA back in 2020, Mourinho admitted he found it hard losing the chance to play for La Decima and was reduced to tears.
      He said: “Unfortunately, that’s football. Cristiano, Kaka, Sergio Ramos… three complete monsters of football, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re also human.
      “That night is the only time in my career as a coach that I’ve cried after a defeat. I remember it well…
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      Aitor [Karanka] and I pulled up in front of my house, in the car, crying…
      “It was very hard because we were the best that season.”
      Opening up about the incident further in an interview with Portuguese TV channel Sic, Mourinho previously admitted it was still the saddest moment of his career.
      He said: “If I have to choose the worst moment, it’s that elimination with Real Madrid.
      “We were the best team in Europe, without a doubt, we won LaLiga smashing all the records for points and goals and we would’ve won that final, I don’t have any doubt.
      “What was most cruel for me was that in the shoot-out we chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos, they were dead certs from the penalty spot and the guys who missed were those who never miss, it sunk me.”
      SunSport have previously revealed that it was the Chelsea dressing room who broke down in tears after Mourinho was sacked by the club for the first time way back in 2007.
      Club captain John Terry said he and his team-mates were so devastated and shocked they approached the Blues board to reverse their decision.
      The former England skipper would be reunited Mourinho in 2013 with the pair winning the Premier League for a third time two years later, before being axed again in 2015.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was denied from the spot as Los Blancos suffered defeat at the BernabeuCredit: AFP More

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      F1 star George Russell boasts glam lifestyle, driving a £140k car and enjoys romantic breaks away with girlfriend Carmen

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      BRITISH F1 racer George Russell outshone his more illustrious team mate Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes last season.The rising star, 25, picked up his first-ever F1 win with victory in the Brazilian GP – and he finished within the points in Bahrain last week.
      Mercedes driver George Russell, pictured with girlfriend Carmen, enjoys a lavish lifestyle away from the F1 circuitCredit: Instagram / @carmenmmundt
      George Russell joined Mercedes last season and is already providing competition for Lewis HamiltonCredit: PA
      Russell, pictured next to Lewis Hamilton in 2010, as an aspiring F1 champ
      He moved to the reigning F1 constructors champions last season – earning a bumper £5MILLION payday.
      That helps the talented racer continue to fund his enviable lifestyle… even though he’s still some way short of team-mate Hamilton’s mega £40m pay-grade.
      Russell currently rents a flat in an affluent area of London, but he has plans to join many F1 colleagues in millionaires’ playground Monaco.
      Away from the racing circuit, the Norfolk-born star drives a £140,000 car – fittingly a Mercedes AMG GT.
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      He also manages to enjoy luxurious breaks away to stunning destinations like St Barts and Santorini, and is joined by glam girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt.
      Russell already leads a playboy lifestyle, despite his tender years.
      KING’S LYNN TO A KING’S RANSOM
      Rising star Russell was born in King’s Lynn to father Steve and mother Alison.
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      The youngest of three children, he has a sister, Cara and older brother, Benjy.
      He caught the racing bug when he started go karting at the age of seven alongside Benjy, who was involved in competitive karting.
      But by 18, he moved to Milton Keynes to be closer to British Formula 3 Championship racing team, Hitech.
      In early 2017, he joined Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport as a part of their junior driver programme.
      A year later, Williams announced that Russell had signed a multi-year deal to drive for their team.
      By the age of seven, Russell was kartingCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      George’s older brother spent his youth competing in karting
      Russell celebrates victory in Race 1 of the FIA GP3 championship at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 2017Credit: Getty – Contributor
      As soon as he was thrust into the spotlight, Russell’s love life was placed under the microscope.
      He met stunning Seychelle de Vries, who was once linked to Max Verstappen, when he raced in Formula 2 in 2017.
      They reportedly dated for three years, before calling it quits.
      Now, Russell is courting the stunning Carmen Montero Mundt.
      Last year, the pair were spotted on holiday in St Barts together kissing on a sunlounger and frolicking in the sea.
      While last August, Russell was spotted enjoying a break in Santorini.
      Most recently, they shared some loved up snaps enjoying the country side.
      Seychelle de Vries dated Russell for three years
      Carmen Montero Mundt is Russell’s current girlfriendCredit: Splash
      Last year, Russell and Carmen were spotted on a dream holiday in St BarthsCredit: Splash
      Russell and Carmen seen together before the Dutch Grand PrixCredit: Rex
      Most recently, Russell enjoyed a trip to the country sideCredit: Instagram / @carmenmmundt
      COMPANY CAR
      Call it fate, but Russell has always had a penchant for Mercedes.
      On top of his current swanky Mercedes AMG GT, he has always favoured the car manufacturer as his ride.
      He’s been spotted with TWO AMG C 63 motors that cost in the region of £80,000.
      Russell proudly displays his cars on social media to nearly four million followers.
      About the AMG GT, that’s capable of reaching 0-60mph in just three seconds, he wrote on Instagram: “Love my little rocket!”
      Russell shows off his prized possession – a £140,000 Mercedes AMG GTCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Russell once said about his AMG GT, ‘Love my little rocket!’Credit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Through the years, Russell has also been spotted with two AMG C 63 Mercedes carsCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      The AMG C 63 costs around £80,000Credit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      HE’S A STUDENT OF THE SPORT
      One of Russell’s many heroes is the late, great Niki Lauda.
      In 2017, the up-and-comer got the opportunity to meet his hero in Baku after a race.
      Lauda even took the student to a Black Eyed Peas concert, after meeting him at a hotel.
      Russell became friends with the three-time F1 champ, and would often lean on him for advice.
      During lockdown last year, Russell shared a picture of himself reading Lauda’s autobiography.
      While he was stuck at home when the coronavirus pandemic was at its height, he made sure he continued to workout and stay in shape.
      He also fitted an F1 simulator to polish up on his driving skills in his bedroom.
      Niki Lauda was an influence on Russell in his early yearsCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Russell shared an image reading Lauda’s autobiography during lockdownCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Devoted Russell has his own F1 sim in his homeCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      HEALTHY LIVING
      Crucial to Russell is his diet plan.
      Regularly, he shares snaps on social media of what he eats – and it’s never unhealthy.
      From poke bowls to fresh salads, the athlete makes sure he’s putting the right food in his body.
      Coupled with going to the gym, it’s what keeps Russell in peak condition and lean for a race car.
      Aside from driving, and working out seven days a week, Russell also likes to play squash and get out on his mountain bike.
      LOVES SPORT
      Playing and competing in sport just isn’t enough for Russell.
      When he has some downtime, he’s happy to sit in front of the TV and watch a live event.
      During the Euros last year, he shared an image online cheering on England. The football fan is a devoted Wolves supporter, like his dad.
      While last year, he encouraged his followers to comment who they felt would win the Indy 500, which he was tuned into.
      Fitness fanatic Russell plays a variety of sports including squash and loves riding on his mountain bikeCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      A healthy salad is Russell’s go-to mealCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Football fan Russell cheered on England during the Euros last yearCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      Joining Mercedes has earned Russell a huge payday so he can continue to enjoy the high-lifeCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      And in 2019, he was in the stands at Twickenham to cheer on England against France in the Six Nations.
      Read More on The Sun
      This year, it’s Russell who is getting all the cheers in the Mercedes car.
      They could just have the next British F1 champ on their hands too.
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      Toto Wolff demands salary cap to be LOWERED than what £40m-a-year F1 stars Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen get

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      MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff says F1’s plans to impose a salary cap on drivers should be LOWER than what top earns Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen currently get paid.The sport’s bosses are keen to reduce drivers’ wages as part of their push to reduce costs.
      Toto Wolff reckons the new salary cap should be LESS than Lewis Hamilton’s £40m a yearCredit: Getty
      How much F1 stars earn
      Hamilton and Verstappen earn around £40million a year, with their contracts running until the end of 2023 and 2028, respectively.
      Drivers reacted angrily to the proposal in Baku last year but Wolff, who is a three-way owner of the Mercedes team, says he is in favour of the cap.
      He said: “It certainly has come up as a controversial topic. We can see that we are facing a very difficult situation in F1 overall.
      “The sport is booming and F1 is earning more money and that trickles down to the teams.
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      “But we have a cost cap. We have $140million for 1,000 people. With inflation, we haven’t been able to even pay the inflation.
      “The talk about $30 or $40m salary allowance is inadequate when you take that perspective.
      “Clearly the drivers will have an opinion on that. Maybe as a driver I would say the same thing, but the US American leagues that are the most successful in the world have introduced salary caps 15 years ago. It works pretty well over there.
      “We need to find a way of how we can act sustainably and become independent from sovereign funds or state-owned teams.
      Wolff is a three-way owner of the Mercedes teamCredit: AFP
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      “Therefore it is certainly clear that this is going to be one of the main areas because you can’t simply have a salary bill in some of the top teams that is 30, 40, 50m when the rest of the team needs to be divided in 140m.
      “But having said that, they are tremendous superstars, they deserve to be among the top earners in the sport.
      “In terms of direct salaries they already are and then we need to find a way of unlocking the capability of doing endorsement deals which is two-thirds if not more for US American sports teams.
      “But certainly, direct salaries, F1 drivers are paid the most.” More

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      Ex-Man Utd coach explains why ‘party animal’ Anderson was a flop and how Fergie ‘wanted to hit him with a stick’

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      A FORMER Manchester United coach has revealed why “party animal” Anderson never succeeded at the club and how Sir Alex Ferguson “wanted to hit him with a stick”.Mick Clegg, who has also revealed how Fergie was good at boxing and that Roy Keane did not like Teddy Sheringham, was employed as a Power Development Trainer by the Red Devils.
      Mick Clegg (centre) worked at United under FergieCredit: Getty
      The Brazilian midfielder struggled with fitness and injuries at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      It was while he was working at Old Trafford that the club splashed out to sign Brazilian midfield star Anderson from Porto after he was spotted by the manager’s brother Martin Ferguson.
      He came with much promise after winning the “Golden Boy” award two years before his arrival.
      But despite winning the Premier League four times and the Champions League, the South American struggled overall to make an impact at United due to injury and fitness issues.
      He eventually returned to his homeland with Internacional in 2018.
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      Now Clegg, who spent four years from 2007 working with Anderson, has provided an insight into what the issues were.
      He told The Athletic: “Anderson was one. You could never find a nicer person, he was popular with everyone but he was a lazy bleeder.
      “He always had his excuses. I used to have a stick and I said to Alex Ferguson very early on, if he carries on, I’m going to hit him with my bleeding stick.
      “Fergie couldn’t believe it. ‘Don’t you dare. He cost me a lot of money. You can’t be hitting one of my players, are you mad?’
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      “Then, six weeks later, Fergie came to find me. ‘Where’s that bloody stick? Give me that stick. I want to hit him’.”
      Clegg added: “Anderson was more than capable of being an absolute stormer of a player. He just needed his head knocking. He didn’t keep fit.
      “He chose not to put in the work, so it’s hard to have too much sympathy for him. He was a party animal.”
      Sir Alex Ferguson ‘wanted to hit Anderson with a stick’Credit: Getty More