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'He Could’ve Died' – Gary Neville Almost Killed in Training Ground Incident

'He Could’ve Died' – Gary Neville Almost Killed in Training Ground Incident

The former Manchester United skipper fell victim to a horror challenge from his teammate.

James Hilsum

James Hilsum

Patrice Evra almost killed Gary Neville with a 'Bruce Lee' kick to the throat during the duo's time together at Manchester United.

The Frenchman unleashed the horror challenge on Neville, after the former United skipper showed no remorse for a terrible tackle of his own moments earlier.

"I had such a great relationship with Gary. When I arrived, he was the one coming with me, showing me around to find a house. What a great captain," he told talkSPORT in quotes published by The Sun.

"But in the training ground one day, I get the ball, he tackled me and he also got my leg. I was on the floor and it was painful. I said to him, 'Gary - you don't say sorry?' And he gave me the 'F' word. I was like, 'OK'.

"So, the next ball, 20 seconds later, it was long diagonal, he controlled the ball with his chest and I just did like a Bruce Lee movement.

"I tackled him on his throat and he nearly did a back flip and broke his neck."

PA: Patrice Evra in a training session with Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
PA: Patrice Evra in a training session with Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.

The kung-fu kick sparked mayhem and prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to end the training session. Wayne Rooney also lamented Evra for the tackle.

But despite the carnage that ensued, the former United defender explained there were no hard feeling between him and Neville.

"Ferguson stopped the training session. Everyone was in. Wayne Rooney said, 'You're crazy! He could've died the way he fell'.

"I said, 'Next time, he will say sorry!'

"Then Gary came inside the dressing room and was saying, 'What, are you crazy?!'

"I just said again, 'Gary, next time just say sorry'.

"I was calm, so they were all like, 'This guy, the way he's really calm, he's really dangerous', and I got so much respect after that.

"But I love Gary, and he loved me because of the way I spoke about United. He said I was like a Mancunian.

"Gary is really simple, if you love Man Utd, he will be your best friend."


Evra was back at Old Trafford for a fans' Q&A ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday, and filmed a bizarre video which saw him eat a blade of grass from the Theatre of Dreams turf.

United's derby match against Manchester City kicks off at 12.30pm tomorrow at Old Trafford.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Patrice Evra, Premier League, Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney