Former striker Federico Macheda has named Gary Neville as the most intimidating player he faced in training at the club.
Macheda, who joined United’s youth academy from Lazio, made his debut in 2008 during the Sir Alex Ferguson era and left in 2014 after several loan spells away.
The Italian scored four goals across 19 Premier League games for United and made a total of 36 appearances before joining ’s Cardiff.
Speaking to ’s channel, Macheda was quizzed about what it was like training in Ferguson’s star-studded squad during that period and was asked who was the most intimidating team-mate he faced.
Ferdinand’s co-host suggested names such as Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs, but Macheda revealed it was a certain Sky Sports pundit who he found the most intimidating.
‘I would say Gary Neville,’ Macheda said as Ferdinand and his co-hosts looked somewhat confused at the suggestion.
‘Sometimes he would kick you out of nowhere, and you don’t know why. The ball would be on the other side of the pitch, and he would just kick you.’
‘A bully!’ Ferdinand said with a smile, before Macheda laughed and added: ‘Yes, a bully! He was bullying people.
‘But the rest, no. There were good characters in training. Against Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand… I found it motivational, just to train against them.
‘It was amazing to try and improve, to try and beat them.’
Macheda was then asked to name his ultimate 5-a-side team from those he had played with over the course of his career.
‘They will all be United players!’ he added. ‘OK, I would put Rio Ferdinand, he was technically a top [defender] and also Nemanja Vidic, he would just kill people.
‘Then I would put Paul Scholes with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. There, we have five!’
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