Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has responded to the consistent dislike of him from segments of the Old Trafford support by saying that the constant levels of negativity surrounding the club are something that he was happy to get away from, as reported by The Telegraph.

Cleverley became a figure of ire last season as Man Utd struggled to a seventh place finish in the Premier League, but the midfielder feels as though the experience has made him a stronger person.

He said: “I am happy to get away from some of the negativity that surrounded me at Manchester United.

“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 has also said that, despite only leaving the club on loan, he can’t ever see himself playing for the team again, despite training to become a footballer there from a young age.

Man Utd have an option to recall him in January, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, he can move on a free transfer, leaving the club where he was once identified as a future star.

Cleverley added: “If I’m honest I don’t think I’d play for the club again.

“The manager made it clear I was not going to play every week at United.

“It was a tough season for us last year. If all the players say they were high in confidence last season I think they would be lying. It wasn’t just me. It was the rest of the squad too, that rubs off on the fans, too.

“I’ve got away from the negativity of that and I’m now onto a new challenge which I can’t wait to get stuck into.

“[Leaving United] is not something I was scared of. I know in modern day football it’s rare that anyone plays for one club for the rest of their life like Giggsy or Scholesy. It’s been a big part of my life.

“Any footballer wants the best opportunity to play every week. It was common sense for me to try and get this move.”

Spoughts

Editor