Vidic confronts dismissive ex-Man United teammate 10 years later - 'I heard what you said behind my back!'

Nemanja Vidic, the legendary Manchester United defender, recently appeared on "The Overlap" podcast with former teammate Gary Neville, where he shared candid and previously unknown stories from his time at Old Trafford. 

The conversation took a surprising turn as Vidic confronted Neville about remarks made behind his back during his early days at the club.

Reflecting on his arrival at Manchester United, Vidic admitted he initially felt lost. 

“I didn’t know where I was,” he confessed. Gary Neville recalled those early days, saying, “I remember watching you train in those early days, and if you’d asked me then if you would become what you did, I would have said I wasn’t sure. That’s how it was in the beginning.”

Vidic didn’t hold back in response, revealing he was well aware of the skepticism. 

“Ryan Giggs and you were saying ‘who is this guy?!’ Yes, and Paul Scholes too. It was dismissive… I felt it, not just from you guys, but from the reserve team as well,” he told Neville.

He then recounted a turning point that changed his mindset and career trajectory at the Premier League giants. 

“Patrice Evra and I played a reserve team match. We didn’t play well. After 45 minutes, coach Rene Meulensteen took us off and said that was enough. 

We said ‘wow, we can’t even play for the reserves.’ Then we came to Carrington the next day and saw the guys who played for the reserves looking at me and saying ‘that guy.’ That’s when I realied I couldn’t be nice anymore and started training.”

Vidic’s honesty and determination helped him become one of Manchester United’s greatest defenders. 

Over eight seasons, he won five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Champions League trophy, five Community Shields, and one FIFA Club World Cup.