ANDERSON: With his Audi sports car

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has ordered his Manchester United stars to curb their "lifestyle excesses" as part of a crackdown at the club.

The United boss wants all his players to be clean living and mindful of their public image.

One of Ferguson's major gripes is the £200,000 super car culture that was part of the Cristiano Ronaldo era.

And that is bad news for the likes of Brazilian midfielder Anderson, the proud owner of a white £100,000 Audi R8.

United's Carrington training ground has often resembled a super car showroom in the past few seasons.

There was even an unofficial competition between some of the players to buy the latest super car to show off in front of their team-mates.

Prior to his summer switch to Real Madrid, Ronaldo was right at the centre of the United car club and was always the first with flashy, new motors.

He infamously wrote off a Ferrari 599 GTB on the way to training in January, but luckily escaped unhurt.

But Fergie has now told his players to tone down their status symbols, particularly during the current financial crisis.

In response, many of United's players have taken up the option to drive sensible Audi club cars which are provided by United's sponsor.

Fergie, who grew tired of the players' excessive displays of wealth, changes cars every three months as part of the agreement with Audi.

Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick are among a number of other players at the club who have taken up the Audi option.

Gary Neville was the first to turn his back on the super car culture and now turns up to training in an eco- friendly Toyota Prius.

Owen Hargreaves, who is still battling back from his tendinitis condition, now rolls into the training ground in a Mini Cooper.

That change of culture has met with Fergie's approval after years of excess among his United squad.

It is part of a series of wide-ranging measures being implemented at United as they attempt to maintain their world- renowned reputation.

Two weeks ago, the reigning Premier League champions brought in measures to prevent 'non-essential' staff eating free porridge and toast from the staff canteen at Carrington.

The number of employees working at United's training HQ has risen to over 100 in the last few years and United are intent on making the cutbacks.