Gerard Pique Recalls Avoiding A Drink-Driving Charge At Man United By Sucking On Coins
Sir Alex Ferguson still found out.
Gerard Pique has recalled a bizarre story about how he sucked on coins to avoid a drink driving charge during his time at Manchester United.
Pique was on Man United's books from 2004 to 2008 before carving out a legendary career at Barcelona.
His playing career at Old Trafford didn't amount to much having played just 13 games in all competitions for the club.
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So, it's fair to say that his story of tricking a police breathalyzer test by sucking on coins from his pocket is the most interesting moment as a Man United player.
Aged just 20, Pique was pulled over by police after driving through a red light. He blew into a breathalyzer and produced an above-the-limit test.
However, he was somehow let off after doing an unusual trick, but his mishap couldn't escape Ferguson who had a word with the player following the incident.
"I ran a traffic light and was stopped by the police," he told The Wild Project YouTube channel.
"It was the year before I went to Barca. Suddenly I blow, I test positive and I find myself in a police van handcuffed going to jail.
"All the drunkenness left me suddenly. My career is going to hell. At that moment you think, 'What the hell is going on?'
"They give you the bag to put everything you have [in], and they took me to a room. The policeman left for a moment, and I was desperate.
"I had some coins left. Some time ago I had been told that if you sucked on the coins you would not test positive. I started to suck them.
"Miraculously I was saved from that one. I doubt it was the coins. Instead of going home, I went to the casino by taxi."
Yes, Pique avoided a charge - but his run-in with the law didn't go unnoticed by the boss.
"I found out later that Ferguson knew," he added." In Manchester everyone knows who you are and someone from the police must have told him.
"One day he said to me, 'You should know that I know'. I said nothing and that was it.
"I imagine that he found out some time after. If he had found out the next day I might have been in more trouble."
Topics: Gerard Pique, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Football
Nasir Jabbar