Former Liverpool and Sunderland forward on buying Ed Woodward’s house, his padel business and how his new coach is similar to Ancelotti
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abio Borini’s house witnessed a major disagreement over football but it was not related to his recent move to Salford City. The forward bought the property from the former Manchester United executive vice-chair Ed Woodward, who had fans at the gates showing their displeasure during his time at Old Trafford. “Because of the protest outside, everybody was worried, so I said: ‘Don’t worry I’ll buy it, get the price down,’” Borini jokes.
The former Italy international has a business mind and knows a good deal when it comes along. Joining Salford, however, was certainly not about the money. After leaving Sampdoria, where he endured a difficult final season after being ostracised, Borini wanted to play for the love of the game. He returned to his wife Erin’s native north-west, where they had their Cheshire home, and searched for work.
After time at a Professional Footballers’ Association training camp for unemployed players, Borini was allowed by Salford to train there to stay in shape and a month later, on 17 October, he signed until January after an injury to one of the strikers. “I said to the club: ‘Do what you can. I’m not going to negotiate over a contract and a few hundred a year or day. It’s about playing football, it’s about you giving me the opportunity and me giving you the same opportunity to get promoted.’”
