Manchester United
Premier League • England
Man Utd exit reduces Spaniard to tears, with mishandled and ‘painful’ moment the beginning of the end
A former Red Devil broke down in tears when discussing his Man Utd exit, and pointed to the exact “painful” moment everything turned sour at Old Trafford.
The list of players to leave Man Utd for free in recent times is a lengthy one. Only last summer United let senior first-teamers Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani walk without recouping a fee.
The common consensus on most of those players is it was the right time for Man Utd to part ways. However, the same cannot be said for Ander Herrera back in 2019.
The Spaniard was a spirited and determined performer in United’s engine room for the five years he was at Old Trafford. During that span, the Red Devils lifted four trophies and Herrera was awarded the Man Utd Fans’ Player of the Season in 2016-17.
However, he was allowed to walk away for nothing in 2019 upon signing for PSG. Fast forward to the present day and the 33-year-old is back in his come country of Spain with Athletic Bilbao.
Herrera is remembered fondly by the Old Trafford faithful and recently spoke out on his United exit to the club’s in-house media.
Doing so reduced Herrera to tears during his interview which had to be paused. Herrera clearly still retains a strong affection for his former club and his belief his exit was mishandled brought out the emotions.
Herrera also zeroed in on one specific moment when he realised his future may no longer laid in Manchester.
Man Utd mishandled Herrera contract?
“To leave, it was difficult because six months before, five months before, I was expecting that offer for me to stay,” said Herrera.
“I don’t want to, it’s not the moment to talk bad about anyone and I am not going to do it, but after my third season with the club I expected a little bit more from the club at that time.
“I got the Player of the Year award by the fans (2016-17 season) and the club didn’t call me that summer to sign a new contract, and they did with other players. That was painful for me, honestly.
“I think I deserved it and they didn’t do it. After, the conditions changed because I was not happy with that little moment with the club.
“People go through the club but the club and the badge stays the same, so I could never say one bad word about the club because I am so, so thankful.
“But that was a little bit painful. At the end of the third season, three titles (Community Shield, EFL Cup, Europa League), [Fans’] Player of the Year, and they didn’t call me in the summer so I was feeling a bit down.
“And after, they called me when I had one year left on the contract and the things, they were not right for me.
“I fight for the club until the last day, no problem at all, I respected my contract until the last day.
“But they didn’t come at the right moment in my opinion, and in my agent’s opinion, and in my family’s opinion as well.”