Crystal Palace striker, Wilfried Zaha has blamed the lack of support he received from Manchester United for his failure to make the grade at Old Trafford.
The former Manchester United man was the last signing made by Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement in 2013, but Zaha made just two Premier League appearances before returning to Palace on a permanent deal two years later.
The Ivory Coast international has since become one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League, and now believes that his struggles with United ultimately made him a stronger and better player.
Asked about his time in Manchester, Zaha told ShortList: “It is hard to take. Obviously, getting to United isn’t easy, so not being given a chance is hard to take.
“I don’t regret anything because it made me stronger. I feel as though I can deal with anything now.
“I went through so much with United, with England. There were rumours that the reason I wasn’t playing [many games] for United was because I slept with [then manager] David Moyes’ daughter, and no one [at the club] attempted to clear that up.
“So I was fighting my demons by myself, these rumours that I knew weren’t true.
“I was dealing with this at 19; living in Manchester by myself, nowhere near anyone else, because the club had a hold over where I lived.
“They hadn’t given me a car, like every other player [had]. Nothing. I’m living in this hell by myself, away from my family, and I thought, If this doesn’t make me stronger, what will?”’
Zaha has scored three times so far for Palace this season having scored nine goals last season and has excelled under the management of Roy Hodgson.
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