Stockport County midfielder Nick Powell joined Manchester United in 2012 as a wonderkid, but he proceeded to struggle during his time at Old Trafford.
In an interview with The Athletic, we have been gifted the chance to learn more about Powell and why things didn’t work out for him at United following his transfer from Crewe in 2012.
It is clear that the timing of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement — a year before he joined — had a big impact on his career, but that could be said about the majority of United players from our last Premier League-winning campaign.
While Ferguson had faith in the youngster, David Moyes arrived at Old Trafford and brought former United academy graduate Phil Neville with him from Everton.
Powell has revealed that Neville ‘p***** him off’ on at least one occasion by delivering a message that, in hindsight, seems like a harsh truth.
The 29-year-old reflects on how he struggled after returning to training — under Moyes — after a back operation.
“When I came back from my operation, I hadn’t moved for six weeks,” Powell told The Athletic. “Phil Neville was the new first-team coach and I was passing the ball out to the wingers for them to cross it in.
“I couldn’t pass the ball. I knew I was doing crap.
“I was thinking, ‘No s***!’ I was coming back from injury, not having really played for a year, still not feeling like a Man United player.
“Little things like that annoyed me, got my back up. I didn’t need to be told.
“It was just a coach being a coach — and I’ve nothing against Phil — but that pissed me off a bit.
“I knew I wasn’t going to play the following season and I’d already had a year of not playing regularly. I wasn’t doing that again.
“So I went to Moyes and suggested I should go on loan.’ He said, ‘I think that will be perfect for you’.”
Neville was recently sacked as Inter Miami manager.
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“Neville was recently sacked as Inter Milan manager.”
Think you mean Inter Miami manager! Phil is already punching a bit, wouldn’t leave him in charge of Champion’s League Finalists. 😀
Apologies! Updated copy.
It says Inter MIAMI, were they in the CLfinal ??????