A tearful Ander Herrera has opened up on the 'painful' way he left Manchester United in 2019.
The Athletic Club midfielder, who is currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, left the Red Devils back in 2019 when his contract expired. When he left for Ligue 1, it was reported that United had wanted to hand Herrera a new deal, but it seems as though they were too slow with their offer.
Indeed, an emotional Herrera recently told United's in-house media: “To leave, it was difficult because six months before, five months before, I was expecting that offer for me to stay. 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. 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."
He concluded: "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.”
