NOBODY is bigger than the club.Romelu Lukaku’s fate at Manchester United was reportedly sealed when he fell out with assistant manager Mike Phelan in 2019, and was immediately shipped off to Inter Milan on transfer window day.
Romelu Lukaku was shipped out to Inter Milan after a bust-up at Man UtdCredit: Getty – Contributor
David Luiz was accused of thinking he was bigger than Chelsea by Andreas Christensen after sealing his move to Arsenal in a sensational £8m deal in the same year, which the Blues later denied.
And in recent times, we’ve seen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang escorted out of the Emirates after falling out of favour with Mikel Arteta. Mesut Ozil’s fate also went the same way.
It shows that often players often fall out with their clubs, managers and team-mates in the high-pressure of professional football.
SunSport presents seven of the best bust-ups involving the stars… kicking off with a Man Utd legend:
FERGIE/BECKHAM
Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t one to suffer fools gladly.
Paul Ince, Roy Keane, and Jaap Stam were all first teamers who upset the hard-nosed Scot and found themselves heading for the exit door.
However, Fergie’s most high-profile bust-up with one his stars came in the shape of poster-boy David Beckham.
As he revealed in his autobiography, the Red Devils legend was furious at his side’s FA Cup exit to Arsenal in 2003 and singled Becks out for his poor performance in the dressing room.
He claimed he had noticed the England legend’s energy levels weren’t what they were and told him in no uncertain terms his mind wasn’t on the game.
The pair had a row and Fergie kicked a boot that slapped Becks in the face and cut his eye.
Less than half a year later, Beckham was headed to Real Madrid after Fergie washed his hands with him.
David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson clashed in 2003Credit: Reuters
Beckham was left with a nasty gash above his eye when Ferguson kicked a boot at his headCredit: Rex Features
KEANE/MCCARTHY
In truth, Keane could have an argument with his kitchen sink, as he has proven in more recent years while working as a Sky Sports pundit.
But in the build-up to the 2002 World Cup, Keane voiced his issues with Republic of Ireland being based in Saipan, including the training pitch and travel arrangements in an explosive interview with the Irish Times.
Mick McCarthy blasted Keane for his behaviour, so the fiery midfielder unleashed his own form of hell.
“Mick, you’re a liar… you’re a f****** w*****. I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager, and I don’t rate you as a person. You can stick your World Cup up your a***,” he said.
“The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country. You can stick it up your b*******.”
Keane was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace, chased by reporters who wanted quotes as he walked his dogs.
Roy Keane was sent home from the 2002 World Cup after a row with Mick McCarthyCredit: Reuters
SOUNESS/BELLAMY
When the fiery pair were at Newcastle, they didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
And after Bellamy was substituted in a game against Charlton, he swore at his boss before leaving the pitch.
Souness revealed in his autobiography: “At our next team meeting, he was sitting in the front row and, as I was talking, he kept shaking his head. ‘What is it that you are not agreeing with?’ I said.
“Before he could answer me, I added: ‘Can we just go back over the past seven days of your life? You have told John Toshack he’s not getting the best from you with Wales, because he’s not using you in the correct position.
‘You have told our chairman that St James’ Park doesn’t suit Craig Bellamy and then, on Saturday, you called me a f***ing p**ck.’
“That’s when I physically got hold of him and asked him to come into the gym with me. I walked out of that meeting and thought: ‘What am I doing? Is this the job for me?’”
Just a few months later, following an incident where Bellamy feigned injury not to play a game on the wing, the Welshman was sold.
Craig Bellamy swore at former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness when he was subbed offCredit: Reuters
SHEARER/BARTON
When Alan Shearer was tasked with trying to keep Newcastle United up with eight games to go in 2009, he had to manage the unmanageable Joey Barton.
Shearer recalled a conversation he had with Barton prior to a trip to Anfield, where the hot-headed midfielder would get stick.
His player assured him he’d be able to handle it.
But… “We were getting beat 3-0 and we were just about to take him off and he scythes Xabi Alonso down just in front of the Kop. Straight red card, suspended for the rest of the season,” Shearer recalled.
“He let me down, he let the club down, and then I just thought it was my time to say a few home truths in the dressing room.”
Barton was duly suspended for the last three matches, the Geordies were relegated and it was Shearer who lost his job.
Remarkably, Barton stayed to play in the Championship.
Alan Shearer had to manage the unmanageable Joey Barton during his brief tenure as Newcastle bossCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Joey Barton’s red card at Newcastle was the last straw, although Shearer was the one sackedCredit: Getty
LAWS/BONETTI
Ivano Bonetti won Serie A with both Juventus and Sampdoria before he took his silky skills to Grimsby Town in his twilight years.
It’s fair to say, The Mariners had never witnessed such a footballing talent at their club.
And it was the fans who brought him to the club, raising half the transfer fee with Bonetti paying the rest.
However, manager Brian Laws wasn’t impressed by his player in one game, laying down the law about his lack of effort in an epic post-match dust-up.
The argument culminated in Laws throwing a plateful of chicken legs (yes, you heard that right) and shattering Bonetti’s cheekbone.
The two kissed and made up in public, however Laws was soon forced out the club.
Brian Laws and Ivano Bonetti kissed and made-up after the manager threw a plate of chicken wings at his faceCredit: Action Images
POGBA/MOURINHO
In today’s game, player power has become paramount.
And French World Cup winner Paul Pogba and ‘The Special One’ Jose Mourinho were two egos ready to butt heads.
Their frosty relationship came to a head when Pogba questioned the Portuguese’s tactics and was stripped of United’s vice-captaincy in a draw against Wolves.
“We are at home and we should play much better against Wolves. When we are at home we should attack, attack, attack. That’s Old Trafford. We are here to attack,” Pogba said.
“I think teams are scared when they see Man United attacking and attacking. That was our mistake.
“Maybe the attitude should be better and we should play better because, again, we are at Old Trafford and we should just attack and press like we did against Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal last season.
“When we play like this it’s easier for us.”
Mourinho was the fall guy, and Pogba is still at Old Trafford – although their war of words was still continuing last month prior to Jose’s axing at Tottenham.
Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinhos egos often clashed at Man UtdCredit: AFP or licensors
DI CANIO/CLARKE
Not the most high-profile, but explosive all the same.
Di Canio was always going to struggle keeping his emotions in check as a football manager.
But just a month into his stint at Swindon Town an argument after a League Cup clash with Southampton with Leon Clarke was caught on camera.
The Italian grabbed at his striker’s shirt as he walked off the pitch, and as the two made their way down the tunnel they got into a tussle.
Clarke never played for Swindon after that and was sent on loan to Chesterfield just a week later.
Fiery Paolo Di Canio was always going to get into bother as a football managerCredit: Sky Sports More
