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Portugal international Luis Nani of Manchester United misses a penalty during a 2-2 draw against Fulham, Craven Cottage, London, 22 August 2010

Watch: Nani recounts hilarious Alex Ferguson story after missed penalty

Planet Football •

Former Manchester United winger Nani has shared a hilarious story about Sir Alex Ferguson’s reaction after he missed a penalty against Fulham back in 2010.

The 35-year-old, who is currently turning out for Melbourne Victory, was reminiscing on former team-mate Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe With Five podcast.

He spent seven years at Old Trafford and scored 40 goals in 230 appearances for the Red Devils between 2007 and 2014, winning four Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League.

“Rio, do you remember that game in Fulham?” Nani began.

“I was on the bench, and then the manager put me on, we were losing 1-0, and then I immediately came on and made a difference. We draw, and then we won a penalty. I went and pulled Giggs aside, I took the ball. I wanted to take the penalty and I missed the penalty.

“My goodness. That game finished 2-2. It was supposed to finish 3-2 to us, with that penalty. So I went in to the dressing room, first of all, he kills me. Straightaway, ‘Giiggsy – with your experience, what the hell are you doing!? Why you let him…’

“Giggs said ‘he wanted to take a penalty, I let him’. He finished with Giggsy and hen he turns to me and says, ‘Nani, you F—-‘, you’re never going to take a penalty again.”

It’s evidently not left too much of a scar on Nani. It’s one of the winger’s favourite stories, and one he’s told before.

Back in 2020, Nani appeared on the official Manchester United podcast and recounted the same tale, with some extra details:

“He (Ferguson) was my neighbour and we used to go to London by train,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

Ferguson’s Red Devils began that 2010-11 campaign looking to reclaim the title back off Chelsea. They recovered from the dropped points at Craven Cottage and slow start to lift the Premier League trophy, having finished a comfortable nine points clear.


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