Di Canio told Alex Ferguson to f**k off when he rang to buyhim

Paolo Di Canio has revealed the night he told Sir Alex Ferguson to: "F**k off!"

The Sunderland manager has revealed he was approached by the retiring Manchester United boss twice during his playing days at West Ham.

But both times he thought the mumbling Scottish voice on the other end of the phone was a friend playing a prank, rather than the Red Devils' legendary boss.

As he paid a warm tribute to a man he called "the Football God", Di Canio admitted: "He called me two Christmas Days in a row and I thought it was my friend.

"I said 'f**k off'. He said, 'No, Paolo, this is Alex.' I said, 'Alex who? Is this you, you mother-f***er?'

"It was so strange - I didn't understand the first few words!

"It was incredible to think about, especially as I was 31. He wanted me to play behind the strikers because Sheringham was nearly 40 and ready to quit.

"I thought, 'This is mad that he wants me.' I thought it was a joke, but I said I couldn't go. I was captain then and I could not move there because of the welcome West Ham had given me.

"It was a fantastic moment and gave me more energy because he was an important manager and you think you are a top footballer. I didn't have high esteem.