Bellion: Playing with Giggs was always my dream

Whenever Sir Alex Ferguson’s transfer flops get discussed, David Bellion is a name that always gets mentioned. After two years at Sunderland and just one Premier League goal, United paid £4m to bring him to Old Trafford. He spent two seasons at United before being loaned out to West Ham then Nice, who we eventually sold him to.

So, what is 32-year-old Bellion up to these days?

I work for Ymer & Malta, a little gallery in Paris, and I collect works of art. I have two paintings of theirs. The woman who set it up offered me the chance to represent them, and I said yes straightaway. Living in Paris enables me to do this. I take my scooter to return from training along the banks of the Seine, or I take my skateboard. I don’t drive a car any more. I hate the star system in football. I’ve always taken my career seriously, but I just kick a ball – I’ve not invented some miracle drug. I had two dreams in my career – to play alongside Ryan Giggs, which I did at United, and to end up with New York Cosmos. It’s a city I love for its music, fashion and art. My agent got me a trial over there, but it did not work out.