Gary Neville has revealed what he bought with his very first pay cheque at Manchester United, admitting it was a “big risk” for him at the time.
Former United captain Neville, 49, spent the entirety of his professional football career with his boyhood club, making 602 appearances for the Red Devils over the course of 19 hugely successful years.
He first joined United as an apprentice after leaving school in 1991, before making his senior debut for the club the following year.
On the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Neville opened up on his early years at Old Trafford, revealing he wisely bought property with his first payment from the club.
“Your own house is the best investment [you could make],” said Neville.
“To be fair when you think about the fact it’s getting harder for anyone to be able to afford a house in the country – which is a different conversation to have – but if you can own your own house, then what a start that is in life.
“When I got money with my first contract at [Manchester] United, I bought a house. That was a massive thing – it was a house which cost £160,000 and I put down £16,000 as a deposit, and at the time I was taking a big risk.”
Neville went on to reveal just how much he was paid by United in his first professional deal.
“I was on £210 a week and had a four-year deal which went, £210, £310, £410, £510, with a £7,000 signing on,” said the former United right-back.
“So basically, you’re saving up for this signing on fee, and then you put it into a house, and you think, ‘Right, I’ve got to afford the mortgage for four years’.”
Neville’s former teammate Roy Keane went on to reveal that there was a running joke in the United dressing room when players discussed investing in property.
“Most footballers I know come from working-class backgrounds and then suddenly, you’re getting decent money! It’s a great gift, to be able to look after people and help them along the way,” said Keane.
“We’d have a joke in the dressing room – people were talking about mortgages and ‘Robbo’ [Bryan Robson] said, ‘What’s a mortgage!?'”