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Former Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha says he regrets not expressing himself under David Moyes
Speaking on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher podcast (h/t Metro), Wilfried Zaha talked at length about his spell at Manchester United and what he regrets after leaving the club in 2015.
The Ivory Coast international was the final signing made by Sir Alex Ferguson when the club agreed a £10m deal with Crystal Palace in January 2013.
The winger said he joined Old Trafford after a conversation with Ferguson and Bobby Charlton. However, he was sent back to Crystal Palace for the rest of the season just as he signed.
The 28-year-old said that he was aware that he would not be starting right away, and that he would have to earn that position.
And as it turned out, Zaha never got to play under the Scotsman. Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012/13 season, and Zaha returned to the club with David Moyes at the helm.
Ferguson retiring was the turning point
The Ivorian revealed that this was a surprise to him, as he had no idea about Ferguson retiring. He mentions that the reason that he joined United was because of Alex Ferguson.
“I was gutted really [at Alex Ferguson’s retirement]; He’s the reason why I’ve come, it’s a no-brainer with me speaking to him.”
Zaha then mentioned that he thinks about his decision to re-join Palace for that six-month period. If he was to stay at United, he may have had the chance to play under the legendary manager.
He then went on to add that he regrets not expressing himself under David Moyes and that he played differently than he would have wanted to play.
“I did not put how I play and my personality across at all. I was literally a shadow of myself.”
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Zaha also added that he wanted Moyes to trust him, but that did not happen. The winger said that he lost his “identity” as he was not allowed to freely express his playing style and do skills. (h/t Metro)
Zaha made just four first-team appearances for Manchester United. Having spent the second half of the 2013/14 season on loan at Cardiff City, he returned to Crystal Palace in the summer that year, initially on loan, before making the transfer permanent in February 2015.
