FORMER Manchester United star Eddie Johnson didn’t eat butter for a decade because of Gary Neville.
The former forward spent seven years at Old Trafford from 1999 to 2006.
GettyEddie Johnson didn’t eat butter for ten years[/caption]
GettyGary Neville made Eddie Johnson question his diet choices[/caption]
He played just once in the first-team in a League Cup clash versus Leeds.
The academy graduate had senior stars like Neville and Roy Keane on his case from day one, which led to a diet change.
Johnson explained to Manchester Evening News: “I didn’t eat butter for a decade because of Gary Neville.
“I struggled with body fat which was a big thing.
“He saw me putting butter on my toast at breakfast and he shouted across the canteen ‘Eddie I am sure your body fat is too high.’
“And I froze. Even when I left the club I didn’t eat butter.
“Sometimes I didn’t want to see Gary Neville but when I left what I realised was that he was putting demands of what the first team expect from you.
“Some people recognise what is going on and I probably didn’t but I have taken those lessons into everything I do now and so I owe the club a lot.
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“Ryan Giggs was fantastic with the younger lads in terms of support and guidance. Roy Keane was the same.”
Johnson has also opened up on what players he hated in the United squad.
The 38-year-old went on to play for Royal Antwerp, Coventry, Crewe, Bradford and the Portland Timbers in America.
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