Owen Hargreaves recalls the days Bastian Schweinsteiger idolised him

Owen Hargreaves knew Bastian Schweinsteiger was different when the Manchester United midfielder approached him and demanded his boots.

Schweinsteiger was just 14 at the time and idolised Hargreaves, who was establishing himself in the Bayern Munich first-team after coming through the club’s youth system.

Billeted together in the lodgings Bayern use for their best young prospects the pair went on to become team-mates and firm friends, meeting regularly in Manchester since Schweinsteiger completed his move to Old Trafford this summer.