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Sir Alex Ferguson Gave Nani The Silent Treatment On Drive Home For Missing A Penalty

Sir Alex Ferguson Gave Nani The Silent Treatment On Drive Home For Missing A Penalty

The former Manchester United winger took the penalty from Ryan Giggs, cost his side two points, and then had to give the manager a lift.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Former Manchester United winger Nani has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson once ignored him during a lift home after he missed a penalty and cost his team a win.

The incident happened in 2010 when United faced Fulham in west London. Before the match Nani had offered to drive the manager home from Stockport train station when they arrived back in the north west.

United lead 2-1 before they won a penalty. The 34-year-old took the ball ahead of penalty taker Ryan Giggs and missed, before Brede Hangeland scored a late equaliser just minutes later.

"He (Ferguson) was my neighbour and we used to go to London by train," Nani told the Manchester United podcast.

"His wife or his family used to leave him in the train station so on the way back he has no driver to take him so he was looking for someone who lives close to him to give him a ride.

"So I said, 'Okay boss, I'll take you home!' But that day, it's so funny believe me! The day I took him home was after a game against Fulham away and I was on the bench.

"I was playing unbelievable with a lot of confidence. We won a penalty and it was Ryan Giggs who took the penalties. I felt confident and Giggs didn't say anything. I took the penalty and I missed!

"In the dressing-room he killed me. He said, 'Nani, who do you think you are? Who gave you permission to take the penalty?'

"And then he killed Ryan Giggs, because he said, 'Ryan, why did you let him take the penalty?' Ryan said, 'He grabbed the ball and I let him.' Oh my god, that day was incredible.

"We are going back home that day and I say, 'Boss, I can take you home.' I drove him back home and he didn't talk to me in the car. I felt very uncomfortable driving home.

Nani's penalty saved by David Stockdale. Image: PA Images
Nani's penalty saved by David Stockdale. Image: PA Images

The game was only United's second of the season and the two lost points saw Chelsea take an early lead over them in the title race.

However the penalty miss was far from detrimental to United's season in the end as they went on to win the title from the Blues by nine points.

During his spell at Old Trafford the Orlando City player was enigmatic, switching between brilliant and frustrating, and was part of four title winning sides and also won three League Cups and the Champions League before leaving in 2015.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Premier League, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Fulham