Veron visits Laa-Laa land

David Walmsley BBC Sport Online

A footballer's favourite television show was traditionally always either Match of the Day or Only Fools and Horses.

But Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has very different viewing habits.

When the Argentine international curls up on the sofa, he escapes to the cuddly world of the Teletubbies.

Veron has been dogged by suggestions that it should be time for tubby bye-byes throughout his troubled time at United.

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But he has now revealed that tuning in to the childrens' favourites protects him from his critics.

He said: "Criticism does not bother me. I don't read newspapers or watch sports programmes on TV.

"Lately, I've been busy watching Teletubbies."

Veron is not the first sportsman to be inspired by Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po.

In 2001, Wimbledon tennis champion Goran Ivanisevic revealed that a daily dose of the programme was an essential part of his pre-match preparation.

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The Croatian added that his favourite character was Tinky Winky.

Veron has not revealed his top Teletubby, but if he asks around the United dressing room he may find other closet viewers to compare notes with.

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Roy Keane might like to replace prawn sandwiches with tubby toast and tubby custard on the Old Trafford menu.

And after stepping out in sarongs, nail varnish and an Alice band, David Beckham no doubt admires Tinky Winky's penchant for handbags.

Keane is less likely to follow suit, although he has given his team-mates a regular verbal hand-bagging over the last few seasons.

And goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has often been accused of being in Laa-Laa land.

But Sir Alex Ferguson could be the biggest Teletubbies fan of them all.

While often appearing Po-faced in interviews, in full hairdryer mode the United boss can turn the colour of Tinky Winky.

And Ferguson went all Teletubby again in the summer when Veron's future appeared to be in doubt.

Instead of agreeing with the critics who said he had seen enough, Fergie sent his record signing a message he would recognise from morning TV.

"Again, again," as the inhabitants of Teletubbyland would say.