Former Manchester United defender Paul McGrath was apparently given £100,000 to retire from playing by Alex Ferguson.Information Guide Nigeria

McGrath, who was only 29 at the time, stated that his former boss made the offer to him in the late 1980s in an attempt to reduce the drinking culture at Old Trafford.

Despite the substantial compensation, the Republic of Ireland legend declined the offer.

He subsequently moved on to Aston Villa, where he became a big success, garnering the moniker ‘God’ during his time there.

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Although Ferguson’s antics were severe, McGrath told The Telegraph that he and others had been “acting up” on a regular basis.NYSC Portal

He said: “Sir Alex got me into the room and just said ‘we’d like you to stop playing football.

“Simple as that. And he said they were willing to give me £100,000 to quit playing football altogether and just go back to Ireland.

“I was thinking about it because £100,000 back then was quite a lot of money. But I spoke to [teammates] Kevin Moran and Bryan Robson, and I just said I wanted to play on because I thought I could still do something in football.

“So Gordon Taylor, who was at the PFA, went into Sir Alex and said ‘Paul’s playing on, you can fine him, you can do what you want but he’s going to play football – here or somewhere else’.”

The defender then left Man United that same summer (1989), and he admitted that he wasn’t surprised to exit the Red Devils.JAMB Result

“It wasn’t a shock really because we were acting up a bit back then,” he said.

“We had a bit of fun but we overdid it, so then he just wanted me out of the club. Then Bryan Robson was having a barbecue at his house and suddenly Graham Taylor was on the phone saying ‘can you come up to Aston Villa’ and I jumped at the chance.

“I thought ‘Jesus, I can play there every week’.”

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