Phil Jones has revealed Manchester United hero Nani once threatened to ‘break his face’ in the changing room after a match.
The incident occurred following United’s shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan in April 2012, a result that contributed to the Red Devils failing to win the league that season and local rivals Manchester City lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time.
Shaun Maloney put Wigan ahead shortly after half-time and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, which boasted the likes of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Antonio Valencia and Nani, were unable to respond.
Jones also started at the DW Stadium and recalled a moment late on in the match when he grew frustrated at Nani and yelled at the Portuguese winger.
Nani did not take too well to being told to ‘pass the f*****g ball’, however, and confronted Jones in the changing room.
Jones, whose long and frustrating Manchester United career finally came to an end last summer, says he was ‘s******g’ himself and was relieved when Fergie came in to restore order.
‘I remember a game we had at Wigan and we pretty much lost the league,’ Jones told United legend Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.
‘We were losing 1-0 in the 90th minute and Nani, bless him, is doing all his stepovers on the side of the pitch.
‘I’m going, “just pass me the ball, pass me the ball”. And then I screamed at him, “just pass me the f*****g ball!”
‘Anyway, we come into the changing room after the game and he’s come in shouting “I will break your face, I will break your face!”
‘I’m s******g myself. I don’t know what’s going to happen here. And then the manager comes in and shouts at everyone to sit down so cheers gaffer!’
That was clearly not the first time Nani let his temper get the better of him, with Ferdinand then revealing that he once broke a reserve player’s ribs in a training-ground bust-up.
‘Nani didn’t mind a tear-up, by the way,’ Ferdinand said of a player who helped Manchester United win four Premier League titles and the Champions League.
‘I saw him punch up a few players on the training ground. He broke one of the young lad’s ribs, it was out of order to be fair.’
Jones was part of the last Manchester United side to win the Premier League in Ferguson’s final season at Old Trafford.
When he officially retired in August, Jones had made 229 appearances for United and earned 27 caps for England.
The 32-year-old is targeting a career in management after hanging up his boots and has already started coaching youth teams at his former club.
‘My career finished shorter than I would have liked,’ he told BBC Radio 5 Live after announcing his retirement.
‘[I’m] glass half full. [I have] completed my A licence and I want to get out there and challenge myself in coaching. Ultimately I want to take charge of a team. I am determined to get there.’
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