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John Rankin is happy at Hamilton - and it’s a massive contrast to a stint in Brazil as a promising Manchester United prospect.
The former midfielder started out at the English Premier League giants, but never made a senior appearance for the Red Devils before joining Ross County.
His only spell away from Old Trafford prior to that was a shock loan in South America at Brazilian club Corinthians, who were based in Sao Paolo.
It was an experience that has stuck with Hamilton’s assistant coach, who arrived at New Douglas Park last year.
The trip to Brazil wasn’t one he enjoyed but speaking on the Lanarkshire Live Sport Podcast, Rankin says it was a real eye-opener, as he couldn’t say no to legendary Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson
He said:“i had booked a holiday to go to Gran Canaria, but Sir Alex Ferguson came to me and said there had been a South American agent on the phone wanting to take two players to Brazil.
“He wanted me to go. It was one of them, I’m not saying no to him! I didn’t last long, I think I was about 17 when I flew out there.
“I was there for a period of time. We didn’t eat, we were hungry, the place was stricken by poverty. It opened my eyes to the real world.
“The facilities weren’t great and I didn’t really enjoy my time there. But the experience I got from it was great. Sometimes you need to do things you don’t like to get better.
“I’m sure there are lots of players just now who don’t like going or doing the gym, but they need to to get better.
“They asked me to stay another six months and I just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t the right thing for me and that’s why I chose to take a flight from Sao Paolo to Rio, to Amsterdam, to London, to Manchester, and then Glasgow!”