Gabriel Heinze has admitted he regrets the nature of his departure from Manchester United in 2007.
Argentina defender looks back on United departure
Gabriel Heinze has admitted he regrets the nature of his departure from Manchester United in 2007.
Heinze incurred the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson after he tried to force through his sale to arch-rivals Liverpool.
If he had been successful, he would have been the first player in 43 years since Phil Chisnall to be transferred from Old Trafford to Anfield.
However, the move broke down and the Argentina international was subsequently sold to Real Madrid but still speaks in regretful tones about his actions.
"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," Heinze said.
"I'm impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble at times, which was the case at the time when I left United."
Heinze enjoyed a three year tenure at United and became a firm favourite on the Stretford End for his granite tackling.
Opinion
But he hopes their opinion of him has not lowered too much following the revelation that he wanted to join Liverpool.
"I spent three years in Manchester and had some great moments and I regret it [leaving the club] a lot.
"There are a lot of things I regret from the last months but I am a strong personality, Sir Alex is a strong personality.
"I took the decision and, looking back, I regret it because it meant leaving a great club and their supporters.
"I was aware of the rivalry with Liverpool, I knew the risk of going from Manchester to Liverpool and what it means.
"I hope it doesn't tarnish the way they see me and they will remember the three years I had in the team."
Defection
Ferguson and Heinze's path have crossed just once since his defection from Old Trafford, when Argentina and Brazil played a friendly in Qatar.
And despite his decision to leave the club, his respect for Ferguson remains as strong as ever.
"On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major influence on my career, in a positive way.
"I've met him only once since I left when I was in Qatar to see Brazil play Argentina [last year] and I was really pleased to see him.
"He gave me a winning culture. I thought my mind was set to be a winner before moving to United, but I discovered I had completed only part of the journey.
"Sir Alex makes every player so much more driven and committed."
