The former Manchester United goalkeeper insists he never left
the club because of his terrible gaffe against Southampton's Matt
Le Tissier.
Many will remember Massimo Taibi failing to stop the striker's shot
at Old Trafford. The ball went through his arms and then his legs
in what was one of the worst goalkeeping mistakes in recent
history. Many believed Taibi left because of that error after being
frozen out of the first team by Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, Goal.com caught up with the former Milan
man to get his exclusive insight into the Old Trafford exit.
"It's easy to link that howler with my return to Reggina," Taibi
told Goal.com
"However, the reality is that while the team were ready to go to
Japan [for the Intercontinental Cup], I had a family problem, and I
asked Sir Alex Ferguson to be released.
"He allowed me some time off, but I didn't feel like returning to
England, even though I was fine at Manchester United. It was a hard
choice to leave them as I had a four-year deal worth a lot of
money. It wasn't easy.
"I didn't leave for that mistake, and Ferguson can testify to that.
I had serious family problems, that is the reason."
After his stint with United, Taibi went on to play for Reggina,
Atalanta, Torino and Ascoli, before retiring from the game in
2007.