In a shocking interview, Dean Henderson called Manchester United’s treatment of him “criminal.”
Dean Henderson, who is on a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest from Manchester United, has stated that he was left ‘fuming’ after the club made false promises.
Henderson said that United promised him he would dethrone David de Gea as No. 1 but then demoted him to the bench, leaving him enraged.
‘To be honest, it’s definitely been the worst 12 months of my career,’ he remarked. It’s been difficult, and I’m relieved to have made it to the other side.’ Going out of the Euros squad (with England), I had the conversation that you’re coming back here (to United) to be the No. 1 goalkeeper. I received Covid, but no one followed through on anything they informed me’.
‘It’s also annoying because I turned down so many fantastic loans last summer for the same reason, and they wouldn’t let me leave.’ At my age, sitting there and wasting a year is criminal. I was enraged.’
De Gea, 31, had 46 games in all competitions last season, while Henderson saw just three, once each in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League.
Henderson also admitted that he refused to communicate with or train with new United manager Erik ten Hag in an attempt to force a move to Nottingham Forest this summer.
‘No,’ he added. I didn’t want him to see me at the gym. Because I knew he was probably trying to keep me. So I informed the leadership that I needed to play football and that I didn’t want to be here as a backup.’
Henderson played 26 times in all competitions in the previous season, when United finished second in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, compared to De Gea’s 36, and ended the season as first choice.
Henderson, a one-cap international, gradually made his way up through the ranks, with loan spells at Stockport County in the National League North, Grimsby Town in League Two, Shrewsbury Town in League One, and Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League. .
Because Forest were unable to secure an option to buy in his loan contract, the Whitehaven-born star will return to Old Trafford at the conclusion of the season.
This season, De Gea will be supported by Tom Heaton, who was one of United’s top performers last season.