FORMER Manchester United powerhouse Norman Whiteside is always game for a laugh at life but he stunned a Hong Kong audience when he told them he had earned more in two years with Everton than in his entire career at Old Trafford.
'United were very good to me for a long time but my long-term contract wasn't the best. I made more money at Everton than I did in Manchester in my full career,' the former Northern Ireland star said.
The Irishman, guest of honour at 'An Evening With Norman Whiteside' at Hong Kong Football Club, also surprised his audience with his account of the Everton move.
'I was on holiday in Belfast when I got a call from Alex Ferguson telling me to come back to the club a week early. When I got to Manchester he took me into his office and said he had ?20 million to spend on the team and I was not in his plans.
'Then he picked up the telephone and called [Everton manager] Colin Harvey and said I was available for ?600,000. Alex also told me what sort of money I should be looking for and then we talked about his future plans and mine. We parted on very good terms, despite the many rumours that circulated,' the Irishman added.
Born in Belfast, Whiteside had been on the Old Trafford books since he was 12 and commuted at weekends and school holidays to train and play with the club. At one point he was travelling every weekend to play with the junior side.