SIR ALEX FERGUSON once invited a pop legend to train with the Manchester United squad.
The legendary singer pulled up to the session with Miss World on his arm – but it did not stop Roy Keane giving him a telling off for a poor performance.
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Man Utd lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the group stage of the Champions League in 1994.
And the possible reason for the heavy defeat could be because the players’ preparations were gatecrashed by Mick Hucknall.
The incredible story about the Simply Red star’s bizarre appearance in training was told by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on their Football’s Greatest Eras podcast.
Scholes said: “I don’t remember him being that good. He didn’t like a football.”
Butt said: “Hucknall should have played [in the game] as we were all rubbish.
“He was awful if I’m honest with you. He had no coordination. He could sing really well – he should stick to that.
“I remember being in the box and going like ‘it is Mick Hucknall with us’.
“And then he started giving the ball away and I remember Keane gave him a b******ing.
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“Keane is having a go at him and I’m like ‘he is not a footballer, he is a singer’.
Scholes added: “I seem to remember as well he had Miss World with him.
Butt explained: “I don’t know what her name was, but she was a good looking girl. She came to the pre-match, he brought her in.
“I don’t think the manager was too happy about that. Everyone’s attention went from the game.
Scholes then chimed in and hilariously said: “No wonder we got beat.”
The ex-England duo revealed Hucknall was around the club often as he became close mates with Ferguson.
He is a passionate Man Utd fan and first met the boss by inviting him backstage at one of his concerts.
