Legend Ralph was hungry for goals but Ciftci bit off more than he could chew
On May 14, 1983, the day the championship was secured, United faced a tense test across the road at Dens Park.
Requiring full points to be sure of the crown, they won the derby 2-1, Milne settling any nerves with a beautiful chipped goal over Dundee keeper Colin Kelly after just four minutes.
Moments like that won him induction into the Tannadice Hal l of Fame, a tremendous accolade for a local lad who had started out at Dundee Celtic Boys Club hoping he might be good enough to play senior.
Despite the love he felt from United supporters, Milne came to the conclusion he had to take the £125,000 move to Charlton.
He said at the time: “I had been at Tannadice too long and didn’t really get on with the manager.
“Make no mistake, Jim has done a marvellous job and built United up from nothing but the truth is he’s murder to work with.
“He simply goes potty when things aren’t going his way.
“His half-time talks often end up a complete rabble.
“At half-time in the 1981 League Cup Final with Rangers he threatened to punch me during the break because he reckoned I wasn’t doing my stuff.
“I scored early in the second half but we lost 2-1.
“Probably the best news for the over the world. It was great to come back to Sporting because I came back home, close to my family and friends. It was good to breathe a little bit, to recover and get some energy back and motivation, to find a new challenge.
“It was a great season for me, for Sporting, that year. I played very well and in the Champions League I scored a couple of goals. I enjoyed the football a lot.”
Nani scored 40 goals in 230 games for United – and claims he knew he would play for them after a tour of Old Trafford as a 17-year-old.
Speaking to the Official Manchester United Podcast he added: “I went to Manchester a couple of years before I joined when I was a junior at Sporting.
“We went to England for a pre- season, we were training and the coach said: ‘Guys, we’re preparing for a tour at Old Trafford.’
“Wow, wow, Old Trafford! Wow! We went into the dressing room and it was a special moment.
“I said: ‘One day, I will sit here and I will be here.’”