“Punches started flying”: Ex-United star lifts lid on wild brawl during his Old Trafford stint

Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has shared details of a brawl he was involved in during his time at the club. Underwhelming tenure When Veron joined United in the summer of 2001 from Lazio for £28.1m (a British record transfer fee at the time), there was plenty of hype and expectations. He was regarded as one of the best midfielders in Italy thanks to his technical ability and his capacity to control games. He enjoyed a promising start to life at United but his performances gradually declined and he struggled for consistency. Having Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and David Beckham at United only made things harder for Veron, who found it difficult to establish a clear role in such a competitive environment. The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson never shied away from defending Veron, famously saying, “Verón is a f**king great player, and you’re all f**king idiots!” Behind closed doors, however, concerns are growing about whether the Argentinian was cut out for English football. Veron was shipped to Chelsea in 2003 for £15m – almost half of what United paid to secure his signature. His spell at United is remembered chiefly as an underwhelming chapter, one defined by talent that never truly blossomed. But he also appears to have experienced some wild times off the pitch, if his latest account of a brawl he got into in England is anything to go by. Veron recounts incident Speaking to TyC Sports, Veron shared a story of partying with rugby duo Agustín Pichot and Felipe Contepomi, who were based in England at the time, only for their celebrations to be brought to an unexpected halt. The ex-United man told the newspaper, “Back then, it was all about hopping from one bar to another and drinking as much beer as humanly possible.” “So, I told them: ‘There’s this thing going on.’ Agustín showed up with Felipe Contepomi, and I said: ‘I’ll get you guys onto the bus.’” The 51-year-old explained that while they were out, an unnamed individual grabbed a microphone and started chanting “England! England!” Veron and his friends responded immediately. “We snatched the mic away from him and started chanting for Argentina, and then the punches started flying. It was a free‑for‑all involving the Irish, the Dutch, the English… and I’m not sure if Felipe swiped some guy’s hat or what exactly happened.” Veron made 82 appearances for United across two seasons, contributing 11 goals and 15 assists. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!