I downed 'Wes Brown special' after Man United goal but Sir Alex Ferguson nearly sacked me

David Beckham, Roy Keane, Jaap Stam are just a few key players at Manchester United that rubbed the legendary manager up the wrong way and found themselves packing their bags.

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So when a youth player tested Fergie's patience and got away with it, that takes some doing.

And that is exactly what Daniel Nardiello did, a promising young forward at the time when he joined United in 1999 as a trainee and was tipped for greatness.

It did not take him long to start banging in goals for the reserves after flying up from the Under-17s, though one goalscoring appearance led to some post-match celebrations that did not go down well with Sir Alex.

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Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, Nardiello said: "I remember one time, I've played for the reserves at [aged] 16, 17 because they were short on players. A friendly game, come on, 20 minutes and scored a goal.

"Got back to my digs and they [my fellow academy teammates] said, 'You scored a goal, go out and celebrate. You've done really well, go out.'"

A young lad with huge potential starting to make a name for himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world? The temptation to start living the high life is almost insatiable.

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And the city of Manchester can offer a great night, as Nardiello found out, though a chance meeting with a senior player would see him in Ferguson's office soon enough.

While a few drinks into the night, the striker and his pal bumped into Wes Brown, who was with his own mate David Healy at the bar Piccadilly 21s.

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It was here that the defender, not too much older than Nardiello, dared the youngster to go one further.

Nardiello continued: "He's pulled us in and given us what he's called a Wes Brown special.

"It was a triple gin, a triple whiskey and a triple vodka. He made us down all three."

The night continued and there were sore heads in the morning and Nardiello had a rude awakening.

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He added: "Anyway, Monday morning comes along and we're in the office with Fergie and Neil Bailey and stuff.

"He [Fergie] said, 'If you ever go out in Manchester again, you'll be sacked from the club, you'll leave the club.'

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"So God knows how he found out - Wes could have grassed on us, I suppose, I dunno? Filled us with alcohol then Monday morning…"

That was enough for Nardiello to sit up and listen.

"Genuinely, he had his spies in Manchester. It was known if we ever went out in Manchester," he added.

"That was my first ever experience of it. In digs, I never went out like that again because you knew it was getting back and you didn't want to get in s*** with the gaffer and Neil Bailey and the youth team guys as well."

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The young forward managed to make four appearances for the Red Devils but failed to get on the scoresheet and subsequent loans to Barnsley followed before joining them on a permanent basis.

Nardiello would make a decent career in the lower leagues with the likes of Exeter, Rotherham and Bury.