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SIR ALEX FERGUSON promised Manchester United stars a bigger dressing room on one condition.

Patrice Evra has revealed that Britain's most decorated boss refused to sign-off on new facilities unless his players achieved football immortality.

Patrice Evra opened up about the dressing room saga on a recent podcast
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Patrice Evra opened up about the dressing room saga on a recent podcastCredit: Getty - Contributor
The United legend revealed that Ferguson would only change the facilities on one condition
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The United legend revealed that Ferguson would only change the facilities on one conditionCredit: Reuters
Evra and Ferguson worked together at United for seven years between 2006 and 2013
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Evra and Ferguson worked together at United for seven years between 2006 and 2013Credit: Mark Robinson - The Sun
The dressing room is now much bigger compared to when Evra joined the club in 2006
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The dressing room is now much bigger compared to when Evra joined the club in 2006Credit: Getty

Ferguson was reluctant to change the area of Old Trafford where he gave his legendary team-talks simply because of the history within it.

But the players were after a bigger, more lavish space to get ready before matches back in 2008.

Evra recalled the anecdote while referencing how the current younger generation are often handed things without putting in the work.

The United legend told the “I'll give you a crazy story.

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“We had to win the Premier League and the Champions League to get a bigger dressing room.

“Our dressing room at Old Trafford was like maybe the size of this room. Sir Alex Ferguson never wanted to change the dressing room.

“We were like, ‘come on boss it is too small'. But this is the history, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, this is why he doesn’t want to change the dressing room.

“But he said if you win the Prem and the Champions League maybe you are going to have a dressing room.”

The changing room used to be much smaller than this
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The changing room used to be much smaller than thisCredit: Getty
Ferguson agreed to an upgrade if his players won the Prem and Champions League in 2008
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Ferguson agreed to an upgrade if his players won the Prem and Champions League in 2008Credit: Getty

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United did just that in 2008 when a penalty shootout win against Chelsea in Moscow capped off the unforgettable double.

Ferguson kept true to his word but Evra revealed the hilarious conversation the pair had about it.

Sir Alex Ferguson phoned and tried to convince me to join Man Utd - but their transfer plan made me say no

The former French left-back added: "He was like, ‘f*** sake, I’m going to have no money’. I was like, ‘it is not even your money boss’.

“I remember the first time we came in and we had big TV screens, a speaker, and I was so happy, like Christmas, just because we got a bigger dressing room.

“But we had to win those trophies to do that.”

Sir Alex's Man Utd trophy haul

Sir Alex Ferguson won 49 major trophies during his time as manager of Manchester United:

  • 13 Premier League titles
  • 5 FA Cups
  • 4 League Cups
  • 10 Community Shields
  • 2 Uefa Champions Leagues
  • 1 European Cup Winners' Cup
  • 1 European Super Cup
  • 1 Intercontinental Cup
  • 1 FIFA Club World Cup

What Man Utd said on hiring EACH of their post-Fergie managers

David Moyes

"All the skills needed to build on United's phenomenal legacy."

Louis van Gaal

"One of the outstanding managers in the game today.”

Jose Mourinho

"Quite simply the best manager in the game today."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

 "A wealth of experience, with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club."

Erik ten Hag

"One of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe."

Ruben Amorim

 “One of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”

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