Gary Neville mocked over 'cheap' idea for first tattoo

Yesterday at 04:02 PM

Gary Neville was mocked by his brother and the Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher after revealing his ‘cheap’ idea for a first tattoo.

Neville raised the possibility of getting some ink after discovering that his brother Phil got one to mark Manchester United’s 1999 treble-winning season.

The Neville family ‘had always been against’ getting tattoos but Phil was tempted when he bumped into a tattoo artist at David Beckham’s Miami apartment.

‘The best time of my career was 1999, without doubt,’ he said on an episode of The Overlap US. ‘That was the best time of my life.

‘Our family has always been against tattoos and stuff like that but I actually got one of '1999' on my arm because it was the best time of my life.

‘I was in Miami for my birthday and Becks invited me around for a meal and when we went around there a tattoo artist was doing one for David and his boy.

‘I decided to get a '99 tattoo and it took me about a year to tell my mum and I obviously didn't tell Gary.’

Gary Neville looked understandably shocked by his sibling’s revelation and was asked whether he could be tempted after the panel caught a glimpse of Phil’s ink on his left arm.

‘I haven't got any tattoos,’ the older Neville brother said. ‘Do you think I should go and get one?

‘If I was ever to get a tattoo I was going to get a lion on one shoulder and a devil on the other.

‘A lion to represent the Three Lions and England and the devil for Manchester United. So I was going to get a lion and a devil on each arm.’

Neville’s suggestion was greeted by laughter by his brother and former Liverpool defender Carragher.

‘Oh no, that's cheap,’ Phil said while grimacing.

Gary, looking slightly insulted by the remark, responded: ‘Is it?! More so than a number on my arm?’

Carragher then interjected by saying: ‘Phil's is better. It’s more understated.’

The Neville brothers helped Manchester United seal a stunning and historic treble in 1999 which was not repeated until Manchester City did the same in 2023.

United are now a long, long way away from having aspirations of winning a treble. They have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and finished just eighth last season.

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