Tom Cleverley has admitted that he is unlikely to ever play for Manchester United again and says he is pleased to have escaped the negativity of Old Trafford by joining Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old midfielder completed a deadline-day switch to the west Midlands side after being told by United bosses that he could negotiate a move away from the club this summer.
Despite being given his debut aged 21 by Sir Alex Ferguson, Cleverley became the butt of jokes on social media in recent months after enduring a difficult period under David Moyes last term.
The midfielder has now addressed the criticism he received while at United – saying he is relieved to leave the negativity behind in Manchester.
‘I am happy to get away from some of the negativity that surrounded me at Manchester United,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘If any footballer gets a bit of stick off their own fans they are going to be hurt, but it has made me strong as a character.
‘For as long as United aren’t winning trophies, players will get criticised, I’m fully aware of that. I’ve still got a league title and 13 England caps. You don’t turn into a bad player just because someone says it on Twitter.
‘Football is a game of opinions, you can’t please everyone and the main opinion for me is the manager I am playing under. If you can please the fans at the same time that is a good season.
‘I’d say I’m motivated to prove a few people wrong and hopefully that does increase my performances.’
He added: ‘If I’m honest I don’t think I’d play for the club [United] again.
‘The manager made it clear I was not going to play every week at United.’
Source: Metro