Exclusive – Ex Man Utd winger reveals toughest training-ground opponent as he dismisses Neville: “I fancied my chances against Gary”

In an exclusive interview with Stretty News, Lee Sharpe opened up on his memorable eight-year spell at Manchester United .

The Halesowen native rose through the ranks of Torquay before joining the Red Devils in 1988 at the tender age of 17. The Old Trafford outfit splashed circa £200,000 to secure his signature, which was a record for an academy player at the time.

Sharpe swiftly confirmed his early promise, as he went on to establish himself as one of the finest young players in the country during his early years at Man Utd.

Unfortunately, he was later impeded by recurring injury problems, which also coincided with the rise of a certain Ryan Giggs , who made the left wing his.

Nevertheless, the 54-year-old still had some unforgettable moments during his time at United, most of all against Barcelona

Sharpe scored 36 goals while donning the famous Man Utd jersey, but he identifies his backheel against Barcelona in October 1994 as his favourite strike, which secured the club an important 2-2 draw.

“My most memorable goal would probably be the backheel against Barcelona, because it was Barcelona and it was a backheel,” revealed Sharpe in his exclusive interview with Stretty News, in collaboration with NewBettingSites.uk .

“We’d never been beaten at home in Europe. So we went 1-0 up and then Barcelona came out and were unbelievable. And then to score that, to equalise with about 20 minutes to go, to save the home record was pretty special.

“And just the night, the whole night, the atmosphere, the floodlights, Barcelona, and to score a backheel was unbelievable. So that’s definitely my favourite goal.”

Ironically, Sharpe’s best moment at United also occurred at the Blaugrana’s expense, albeit a few years earlier. The retired winger picked the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup as his proudest achievement.

“My best moment at United? I had quite a few while I was there, so it’s very difficult to pick one out. I mean, the hat-trick at Highbury would certainly be up there as an individual thing for me. But I think as a team, the Cup Winners’ Cup final against Barcelona in Rotterdam.

“I think that sort of kicked us on to go and win league titles. I think going and winning that against what was a really strong Barcelona team in a European competition, the first year after being back in Europe after the five-year ban, gave us a lot of confidence.”

(Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images)

We also asked the former Sampdoria and Leeds star which current Man Utd star he can relate to, but he struggled to find one, especially following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

“I think we’ve probably got rid of the players that I would even sort of class myself as close to. I think Garnacho, who’s quick and likes to run at people. Rashford on his day as well. Amad (Diallo), possibly, you would add to this category. I think they were all sold or moved on, unfortunately.

“United have Mbeumo and Cunha playing wide now. And I don’t think they’re really the sort of winger that I was. I think back in the day, there were a few of us knocking around.

“We had, you know, Konchesky and Giggs as well. David Beckham probably changed that a little bit in the fact that he wasn’t really a runner at people. He was more of a passer and a deliverer of crosses.”

On a separate matter, Sharpe revealed that he didn’t have an issue getting past a young Gary Neville in training sessions, but dribbling past the more experienced Denis Irwin was a whole different matter.

“I think Dennis Irwin was probably one of the toughest full-backs to get past.

“I always fancied myself against Gary Neville when we did the one-on-ones with the lads over that side. Paul Parker was a tough defender as well because, obviously, really quick and low centre of gravity, so quick on the turn. But Dennis Irwin, I would say, would probably be the toughest full-back you’d have to beat.

“We wouldn’t do it that often, to be fair. It would all be set up so that we just sort of knocked the ball to the byline and then got crosses in, so it was more of a finishing drill,” concluded the three-time Premier League winner.