You’ve got a little something…
He stopped short of the old “is that the Pope” classic or pointing to a stain on Richards’ shirt before running his finger ingeniously from his chest up to his bowed face, but Matteo Darmian is a little rascal.
The Manchester United right back impressed during his first outing against Spurs last week and, throughout another win and clean sheet against Aston Villa on Friday night, he gave away some of his tricks. Some of his very special, secretive tricks.
It might’ve seemed strange that he was the one appointed to keep an eye on Aston Villa’s bull, Micah Richards, for set pieces but perhaps his subtle distraction techniques are why he has made the cut.
Darmian was trying to take Richards’ mind off the incoming corner by telling the Villa captain – on-field captain – that he had what we can only assume was snot coming from his nose.
And Richards falls for it.
Looks normal enough. Except Villa don’t seem too keen on attacking.
Ignore him, Micah. Ignore him.
Oh, no.
This is actually happening.
Listen and learn, Luke.
He’s done this to me before when I played for Fiorentina.
Ciaran Clark doesn’t like it either.
This is the face of a man being talked around.
Closing statement.
He’s done it! He’s done it!
Meanwhile a corner is coming in.
When the snot trick doesn’t work, Darmian has another. The old grab-him-round-the-neck play.
