Gary Neville says watching two players made him realise his Man Utd career was over

Gary Neville knew his Manchester United career was over after watching two of his teammates in training, admitting that he was "nowhere near" their level at the time.

There is no doubting Neville's legacy at Old Trafford. After rising through the ranks as part of the Class of ‘92, he went on to spend 20 trophy-laden years with his boyhood club.

As well as winning eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League trophies, he was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year on five occasions.

The former right-back decided to call time on his career in February 2011, just months after a "horror show" performance against West Brom played a significant part in his decision to call it quits.

Now, the 51-year-old has also revealed how watching Manchester United teammates Rafael and Fabio in training convinced him that his career at United was all but over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville explained: "I remember Rafael, who was my direct competition. Fabio played mainly at left-back for us, and Rafael was the one taking my position.

"I always remember watching them in training, how sharp they were to the ball, how quick they were in the tackle, and how they had the ability to go and take the ball off wide players and wingers.

"I remember Rafael coming in, aggressive and tenacious, and thinking, 'I'm nowhere near this.'

"That was what I used to be. I was that aggressive, tenacious full-back with the speed and ability to spring off the mark, making really short, sharp movements, and they had that."

Neville was taken aback by Rafael's level in training. Image credit: Getty

Neville added: "They were the boys who convinced me that my career at Manchester United was over."

Gary Neville recalls being "embarrassed" towards the end of his time at Manchester United

Neville spoke about the previously mentioned West Brom game when discussing his decision to leave United.

"In that last six to eight months I was at the club I felt embarrassed," he recalled in 2020. "You think about the game at West Brom, it was a horror show performance from me for 62 minutes. How I didn’t get sent off, how I didn’t cost us more goals [I don't know].

"The same happened at Stoke in the game before that in November and the same at Everton where we were 3-1 up and it finished 3-3 and the two goals came down my side. So, for me I had no choice, I was finished, I was done."