Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Dean Henderson tears Man Utd apart over ‘criminal’ transfer decision, as major Ten Hag snub emerges

Dean Henderson, Man Utd v Middlesbrough February 2022

Dean Henderson has blasted Manchester United for their treatment of him last season, calling their behaviour ‘criminal’.

Henderson spent two very successful seasons on loan at Sheffield United, making 82 appearances and keeping 34 clean sheets. He returned to Manchester United in summer 2020 to try and replace David de Gea as their number one.

The English goalkeeper managed to get ahead of his Spanish counterpart at one point. But then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went back to using De Gea, and interim managerial replacement Ralf Rangnick did the same.

Henderson was tipped to make a loan move away from Old Trafford in January. But despite rumours of Newcastle and Watford interest, Manchester United kept the shot-stopper in Manchester.

He didn’t play in the Premier League or Champions League for the remainder of the campaign. Henderson knew his time with the Red Devils was up and a move to Nottingham Forest came about in early July.

The one-time England international will spend the new season on loan at the City Ground. There is no obligation for Forest to buy, though the temporary switch could lead to a permanent one.

During an appearance on talkSPORT (via The Athletic), Henderson was asked about his time at United in the 2021/22 season. He slammed them for not using him or allowing him to leave on loan.

“The conversation I had, coming out of the Euro 2020 squad, was that you’re coming back to be the number one goalkeeper,” Henderson said.

Dean Henderson criticises ‘criminal’ Man Utd decision

“I turned so many good loans down last summer for that reason, and they wouldn’t let me go. It was frustrating.

“To sit there and waste 12 months is criminal really, at my age. I was fuming.”

When asked if he spoke to Ten Hag before leaving, Henderson continued: “No. I didn’t really want the manager to come in and be able to see me in training because I knew he’d probably want to keep me.”

Henderson is clearly angry at how he was promised regular game time at United but never got this. He will be looking to prove the Manchester side wrong by impressing while at Forest.

The 25-year-old is still on United’s books, so his comments surely won’t go down well. Maybe it is part of his plan to push through a permanent transfer elsewhere.

Forest will probably have first refusal to land him next summer. But this depends on them staying in the Prem, as Henderson wants top-flight football, as well as how the keeper does.

Other clubs in England are known to admire him and will snatch at a transfer opportunity if one presents itself.

Meanwhile, a report claims Ten Hag is still adamant United will win the race for Frenkie de Jong, despite Chelsea pushing to complete a deal.