Former Manchester United fullback Fábio has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson told him that he would be playing in the Champions League Final of 2011 whilst they were both in a lift.
The Brazilian was chosen to start the match ahead of his twin brother Rafael and joined Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra in The Red Devils' back four.
"To be honest it's something personal," the 31 year old told talkofthedevils when asked about the build-up to the clash with Barcelona at Wembley Stadium. "Something I'll never forget.
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"Two days before the Champions League Final we were in the elevator. He hadn't picked the team yet but he said 'Son, just be prepared you're going to play. You deserve to play this game'.
"I can always remember being in the elevator with him coming down to dinner. I've never forgotten that since."
United were comfortably beaten in the final, with goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa cancelling out a Wayne Rooney equaliser and securing Pep Guardiola's side another European crown.
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However, Fábio, now playing for French club Nantes, believes if Ferguson's men had got the first goal that night, they'd have been victorious.
"The Barcelona style is nice on the eye and it is effective," he explained. "We were not the only good team they defeated.
"I am convinced that if we'd scored the first goal at Wembley- and in Rome (where the 2009 Champions League Final was held)- we would have beaten them. If Wayne's goal had been the first goal of the game. If. I don't think they would have been able to score past us if we had played in that sort of compact way we did in the 2008 semi-final."
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In five seasons at Old Trafford, the 31 year old made 56 appearances and lifted both the Premier League and Community Shield in 2011.
Fábio also enjoyed spells in the Premier League with QPR, Cardiff City (under current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær) and Middlesbrough respectively.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Barcelona, Wembley Stadium, Champions League