Friday 12 September 2014 16:15, UK
Tom Cleverley accepts that his Manchester United career is over and admits that the Old Trafford boo-boys played a part in his exit.
The England international midfielder joined Aston Villa on loan shortly after the summer transfer window closed in a move ratified by the Premier League.
And the 25-year-old, whose contract with the Red Devils ends next summer, is relieved to have moved on after coming under fire from his own supporters.
With me being out of contract at the end of the year if I am being honest I don’t think I would play for the club again.
Cleverley told reporters: “If any footballer gets a bit of stick off their own fans they are going to be hurt. Football is a game of opinions and you can’t please everyone.
“I am happy to get away from some of the negativity. Whenever you are not winning trophies at Man United the players are going to get some stick.
“With me being out of contract at the end of the year if I am being honest I don’t think I would play for the club again.
“In modern football it is rare that one player, like Giggsy or Scholesy, plays for one club for their career.”
United boss Louis van Gaal handed Cleverley the captain’s armband for one match during their pre-season tour of the United States, but the midfielder accepts he is not in the Dutchman’s plans.
He said: “I wasn’t emotional or anything like that. I didn’t get a chance to say many goodbyes. It is something I had prepared myself for.
“Louis van Gaal was always straight with me. I had a fairly good pre-season where we won every game, but he has his own players.
“The manager made it fairly clear it wasn’t going to happen for me there.”
