Massimo Taibi: Ex-Man United man says he regrets “impulsive” decision

Massimo Taibi: Ex-Man United man says he regrets “impulsive” decision

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi has detailed his time at the club and how he regrets an “impulsive” decision he made.

Infamous tenure

Taibi joined United in August 1999, then as a high-profile signing from Italian outfit Venezia.

He arrived in England with a strong, no-nonsense reputation earned during his time in Italy. Widely tipped as the natural successor to the retired Peter Schmeichel, he became the focus of Sir Alex Ferguson’s attention after Schmeichel’s replacement, Mark Bosnich, suffered an injury, forcing the legendary manager to seek cover.

United forked out £4.5m to sign Taibi, who put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

But his time at Old Trafford was a massively disappointing one. He lasted only four Premier League appearances, all of which came in the 1999/2000 season, before he was shipped out on loan and then sold.

Taibi enjoyed a good game in his debut against Liverpool, as the Red Devils came from behind to win 3-2. He endured a nightmare start, failing to claim a high free-kick ball and allowing Sami Hyypiä a header, but he redeemed himself with a string of fine saves.

The 56-year-old was unable to build on the positives as he made several howlers in subsequent games against Southampton and then Chelsea, the latter ending in a 5-0 loss for United. The Chelsea match was Taibi’s final appearance for United.

In January 2000, United loaned him out to Reggina in Serie A before then selling him in the summer of the same year.

Taibi makes honest admission

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Taibi revealed how his move to United came about. He also expressed regret for leaving the club permanently, despite having a family emergency that he needed to go and solve.

Taibi told the newspaper, “It was a spectacle. It was 1999, I arrived in Manchester as a semi-unknown. They wanted to sign Toldo at first, then they bought me while I was playing for Venezia.”

“And Sir Alex even came to pick me up at the airport and introduced me to the entire management.”

“It was 8 pm, it wasn’t a given. We had a good relationship, even though at half-time of that 5-0 Chelsea-Manchester United game he gave me a dirty look that I still remember.”

He further said about the Chelsea game, “I made a mistake and conceded a goal. At halftime, he turned the locker room upside down. When he got angry, he shook the walls. He took it out on everyone, even me. He looked at me badly and said, ‘Massimo, that save…’ But he would have kept me on.”

On departing Old Trafford, Taibi remarked, “I was the one who made the mistake of leaving. I had a family problem in Italy and I was in a hurry to resolve it.”

He labelled the exit his biggest regret. “Yes, I had a four-year contract. I was the best player on the pitch at Liverpool, then I made that mistake I was telling you about.”

“Ferguson advised me to learn the language and stay to play my cards right. I was wrong to be impulsive.”

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Featured image Grazia Neri via Getty Images

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