BBC Sport · Oct 30, 2024
Forlan on beating Van Nistelrooy & ATP debut at 45
Image caption, Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistelrooy helped Manchester United win the 2002-03 Premier League title - and played against each other on the tennis courtPublished
Footballers are a competitive bunch. The will to win is rarely ever consigned to the pitch.
So when Manchester United strikers Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistelrooy faced each other on a tennis court at Nike's HQ in Portland during a 2003 pre-season tour, there was tension.
Sir Alex Ferguson and their United team-mates were watching. Fergie had apparently put money on Forlan winning the pre-training tie-break tussle.