"He is a f***ing great player. And you're all f***ing idiots."

These were the words an infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson shouted at journalists after one particularly irate press conference in May 2002 during which Juan Sebastian Veron, who became British football’s most expensive footballer when he joined Manchester United in a £28.1 million deal from Lazio the previous summer, was criticised.

“Get out!” Ferguson told the media, per the Guardian, as he abandoned his press conference in spectacular fashion.

However, the criticism wasn’t entirely undeserved. Veron had flattered to deceive for the Red Devils, particularly in the Premier League, despite an excellent start to his spell at Old Trafford.

The technically-assured midfielder won the Premier League Player of the Month award within his first few weeks as a United player, but things quickly went downhill after that.

Beckham's departure offered Veron another opportunity

And they didn’t get much better in his second season. Barring some impressive performances in the Champions League, Veron only managed to show glimpses of his world class talent in England.

However, when it was announced that David Beckham would be leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid in the summer of 2003, it appeared that Veron would finally be handed an opportunity to take centre stage.

Veron's stunning assist v Juventus in 2003

And fans were excited after watching Veron’s masterful performance for United against Juventus on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side recorded an emphatic 4-1 win and Veron produced one of the best assists you’re ever likely to see.

Two of Veron’s best attributes were his passing and his vision - and he combined them both to pull off this spectacular assist for Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose finish was just as good by the way.

United’s number four spotted Van Nistelrooy out the corner of his eye and brilliantly played an outside-of-the-boot pass right into his teammate inside the crowded Juventus penalty area.

Watch it here… (2.30 in the video)

Veron's teammates begged him to stay

After the match, his teammates begged him to stay at United, amid interest from the newly-rich Chelsea.

"Seba was the best player on the pitch,” Van Nistelrooy was quoted as saying by BBC Sport after the match. “He didn't lose the ball once, all his passes came off and the assist for my goal was absolutely brilliant.

"When he got the ball in the build-up to my goal I knew he was going to pass to me because he can play passes like that with the outside of his foot.

"There aren't many players capable of lifting the ball the way he did. Probably nobody expected it but me."

Phil Neville added: "That pass was out of this world.

"I think winning the league last season has really helped Seba. He has been one of our best players on tour and that bodes well for the future."

Veron signed for Chelsea seven days later

However, literally one week later and Veron became a Chelsea player after Ferguson decided to offload the enigmatic South American for £15 million.

F***ing idiots, indeed.