Ferguson’s Man Utd exit crushed me – Zaha
Wilfried Zaha has insisted he had “no idea” Sir Alex Ferguson was planning to leave Manchester United after agreeing to join the club, and admits to being “crushed” by his exit.
Zaha signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Red Devils after completing a £10 million ($13m) move from Crystal Palace in January 2013, before being sent back to Selhurst Park on loan for the remainder of the season.
Shortly before the Ivory Coast international was due to join up with his new team-mates at Old Trafford, Ferguson announced he was stepping down from his post at head coach after 25 years of unprecedented success. David Moyes was swiftly drafted in to replace the legendary Scot, and he immediately set about stamping his own mark on a Premier League-winning squad.
Zaha – who returned to Palace in 2015 – ultimately failed to force his way into Moyes’ starting XI, but has now conceded that missing out on the chance to play under Ferguson came as a huge blow to his confidence.
The 27-year-old told former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand on his Youtube channel: “It crushed me a little bit because it was like, after speaking to him, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go there. I had no idea he was leaving.”
Zaha added on the initial discussions he had with Ferguson over his potential role in the squad: “He didn’t tell me exactly how he wanted me to play.
