David de Gea has sent a heartfelt message to former Manchester United teammate Ander Herrera after he broke down in tears over his emotional Old Trafford exit.
Herrera was brought to Old Trafford in 2014 by former United manager Louis van Gaal, with the Red Devils activating his £30.4m release clause.
The 33-year-old Spanish midfielder became a fan favourite at United after his transfer from Athletic Bilbao, with Herrera spending five seasons at the club.
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Herrera left United in 2019 and signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, despite the Red Devils wanting to keep the Spaniard at Old Trafford.
Speaking to United’s in-house media team, Herrera broke down in tears as he candidly opened up about his emotional exit from the Premier League club.
“To leave, it was difficult because six months before, five months before, I was expecting that offer for me to stay,” he told the UTD Podcast.
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“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 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.
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“People go through the club but the club and the badge stay 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, 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.”
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Herrera continued: “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.”
De Gea took to social media on Saturday to send a heart-warming message to former United and Spain teammate Herrera after his tear-jerking interview.
“Once a Red, always a Red,” the United No 1 wrote on Twitter.
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According to reports in 2019, Herrera was left ‘irritated’ by the time it took United to offer him a new contract.
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The PSG loanee, who has returned to Bilbao for a second spell, reportedly wanted to see a wage increase that would take him in line with United’s highest earners.
However, United were unwilling to meet the former Spain international’s demands and Herrera subsequently became a free agent after his contract expired.
Topics: David De Gea, Ander Herrera, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz